States » EastPosted at: Oct 22 2026 5:10PM


Bengal: CPI(M) claims Rs 1 Crore in puja book sales amid attacks on stalls

Kolkata, Oct 22 (UNI) Despite political setbacks and controversies surrounding its book stalls during the Durga Puja festivities, the CPI(M) has claimed to have sold books worth nearly Rs 1 crore across West Bengal till Dashami (October 21).
The reported sales have offered a measure of encouragement to the party's state leadership at a time when the Left remains electorally marginalised in Bengal.
According to party sources, around 1,200 book stalls were set up across the state during the festive season. North 24 Parganas emerged as the leading district, with sales exceeding Rs 10 lakh. The stall at Jadavpur's 8B bus stand reportedly recorded particularly impressive figures, with books worth Rs 14 lakh sold by Dashami afternoon. Party leaders expected the total to cross Rs 15 lakh by the evening, with the stall scheduled to remain open until October 23 (Dwadasi).
The sales figures have assumed significance for a party struggling to regain its political foothold in the state. The CPI(M) has no representation in the West Bengal Assembly or the Lok Sabha from the state. Its vote share has also fallen sharply in recent electoral contests, raising questions about the future of the Left's traditional political base.
Yet, party leaders believe the response to their book stalls suggests that electoral decline has not necessarily translated into a corresponding loss of interest in Left ideology and literature.
Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) central committee member and former state minister, attributed the response to the continuing appeal of Left thought among sections of Bengal's educated population.
"Even today, Left ideology occupies a distinct place among Bengal's educated sections. Elections have become trapped in the polarisation between the Trinamul Congress and the BJP. But the response to book sales indicates that a substantial section of people in the state continues to have faith in Left parties," Chakraborty said.
According to party sources, Marxist literature, books on contemporary politics and publications reflecting Left perspectives were among the most sought-after titles. Party workers also reported considerable interest among members of Generation Z, offering the leadership a potentially encouraging indication of younger readers' engagement with political literature.
The reported sales came amid repeated incidents of vandalism and confrontation involving CPI(M) book stalls in different parts of Bengal, from Nagerbazar to Siliguri. Party sources claimed that around 100 stalls had faced attacks or disruptions. Of these, approximately 15 to 20 could not reopen, while the remaining stalls resumed operations.
The Jadavpur stall became a focal point of controversy after a confrontation involving the police, central forces and municipal authorities. Party workers resisted attempts to remove the stall, turning the site into a rallying point for sections of the Opposition.
The stall also attracted visitors beyond the Left's traditional support base. Trinamul Congress leader and Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh and West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Shubhankar Sarkar were among those who reportedly visited the stall and purchased books.
In areas where organisers feared further disruption, CPI(M) workers adopted an alternative approach, carrying books in vans and toto vehicles to residential neighbourhoods and villages. The initiative, described within the party as "Duyare Bookstall" or book stalls at people's doorsteps, enabled workers to continue selling books despite difficulties in maintaining fixed stalls.
Sudip Sengupta, a CPI(M) state committee member associated with the Jadavpur stall, said this year's sales had set a new benchmark. The previous highest figure for the stall was slightly above Rs 6 lakh, recorded in 2022.
"This year has created a record. Our previous highest sales were a little over Rs 6 lakh. By the afternoon of Dashami, we had already crossed twice that figure," Sengupta said.
The party's publication wing, National Book Agency (NBA), is expecting sales to rise further. Chakraborty said the number of stalls had increased compared with last year and that the final figures were expected to be higher.
The CPI(M) is now preparing to extend the initiative to Kali Puja and Jagaddhatri Puja, with stalls planned in Barasat, Krishnanagar and Chandannagar.
For a party seeking to rebuild its organisational strength, the reported sales offer a welcome boost. Whether the enthusiasm translates into renewed political support, however, remains an open question.
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