Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
West Bengal CM Says Left Parties Should Sell Books at Party Offices
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Left parties should sell books from their offices, not from stalls at Durga Puja pandals.
He argued that parties that do not believe in Hindu festivals should not sell books at the celebrations.
His remarks came amid attacks on Left party book stalls at pandals in several parts of the state.
Some leaders from his own political camp condemned the vandalism, while the state BJP president denied that party workers were involved.
The CPI(M) went to the Calcutta High Court over attempts to remove its temporary stall in Jadavpur, Kolkata, but the court declined to intervene on Tuesday.
A separate court order allowing a stall in Bongaon had already been stayed by a division bench, leaving the dispute over stalls unresolved in the information available.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Left parties should sell books from their party offices rather than at Durga Puja pandals.
He argued that parties that do not believe in Durga Puja should not sell books during the festival.
His remarks came amid reports of attacks on Left party book stalls across the state.
The CPI(M) has alleged that authorities tried to remove a temporary book stall in Kolkata’s Jadavpur area.
The Calcutta High Court declined to intervene in the CPI(M)’s case on Tuesday.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Left parties should sell books at their party offices.
- What
- He opposed their setting up book stalls at Durga Puja pandals.
- When
- October 20, 2026.
- Where
- West Bengal, India.
- Why
- He said parties that do not believe in Durga Puja should not sell books during the festival.
Suvendu Adhikari
Left parties
Book stalls at Durga Puja pandals
Suvendu Adhikari
Adhikari said Left parties should sell books from party offices instead of setting up stalls at the pandals.
Left parties
Left parties have set up stalls at the pandals and alleged that authorities attempted to remove one in Jadavpur.
Reason for the dispute
Suvendu Adhikari
Adhikari argued that parties that do not believe in Durga Puja should not sell books during the festival.
Left parties
CPI(M) State Secretary Md. Salim said the books were an excuse for a crackdown on matters related to education and culture.
Left party supporters formed a human chain to prevent a bulldozer from razing a temporary book stall in Kolkata’s Jadavpur area.
RSS leader Jishnu Basu condemned the vandalism of book stalls.
Adhikari said Left parties should sell books at their party offices rather than at Durga Puja pandals.
The Calcutta High Court declined to intervene in the CPI(M)’s case over a temporary book stall in Jadavpur.
- Chief minister
- Suvendu Adhikari
- Party offices in the state
- 4,000 to 5,000, according to Adhikari
- Jadavpur
- Kolkata area where a temporary book stall was the subject of a CPI(M) case
- Book stall parties
- Communist Party of India (Marxist) and SUCI (Communist)
1 source
What people are saying
Those who do not believe in Durga Pujas or any other Pujas, it is better that they should not be allowed to sell books during Durga Puja.
the books are just an excuse the party in power has decided a crackdown on anything related to education and culture.
there is no valour in vandalising book stalls and those indulging in such acts are cowards.