Full Breakdown
Attacks on Left-Party Book Stalls During West Bengal’s Durga Puja Spark Political Clash
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Demolition Attempts and Protests at Jadavpur Book Stalls
During Durga Puja, temporary book stalls run by the CPI (M), CPI, SUCI(C) and allied groups were targeted in Kolkata. On the night of October 17, a bulldozer was deployed to raze stalls near the 8B bus-stand in Jadavpur; locals and party activists formed human chains to block it. The following night, police, the Central Armed Police Force and Kolkata Municipal Corporation dismantled additional stalls, while an RSS-backed stall in the same area remained untouched.
Background & Context
Book stalls have been a fixture of West Bengal’s Durga Puja for decades, giving Left parties a platform for political literature. After the BJP assumed state power in May 2026, the ruling party began confronting the Left as a primary adversary. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari warned on September 10 that parties referring to the festival as “Sharadotsav” should be barred from stall placement.
Official Statements & Responses
- Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister, argued that parties not recognising Durga Puja’s religious significance should be excluded from pandal spaces and urged them to sell books from their offices.
- Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Shabbar Rashidi stayed the October 15 order, citing procedural concerns.
- Justice Partha Pratim Roy, vacation-bench judge, dismissed the CPI (M) compensation petition because a related case is pending before a division bench.
Criticism & Opposition
On-the-Ground Reports
Activists documented a night-long standoff. A bulldozer and a KMC dumper were used to dismantle structures, while protesters formed human chains with flags, books and posters. Prominent participants included CPI (M) central-committee member Sujan Chakraborty. Activists accused officials of “passing the buck” and acting under “immense pressure from higher levels.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Permission dispute – KMC officials said fee payment did not guarantee permission; Left parties said they possessed receipts and asked to see documents validating the RSS stall’s legality.
- Selective enforcement – The RSS-backed stall remained untouched, while Left-run stalls were deemed illegal.
- Responsibility for demolition orders – Police and KMC officials each attributed the directive to the other, leaving the chain of command unclear.
Verbatim Quote
- “The police informed us that if we dismantled our stall for repairs, they would not allow us to rebuild it. However, we repaired it nonetheless and carried on with our programme,” — Maji, Trinamool Congress MLA
What’s Next
A division-bench hearing of the pending CPI (M) book-stall case is scheduled for January, where the court will address stall permissions during public festivals.