Left parties should peddle books from offices, not Puja pandals: Bengal CM

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday criticized Left parties for utilizing Durga Puja pandals as venues to distribute and sell their literature, arguing that such commercial activities have no place in religious spaces meant for community worship and cultural celebration.

Adhikari suggested that if Left parties wish to promote their ideological materials and publications, they should do so from their party offices rather than exploiting the festive atmosphere of Durga Puja pandals. The Chief Minister's comments reflect growing tensions surrounding the festival season in West Bengal.

The remarks assume significance following reports that several book stalls operated by Left organizations at various Durga Puja venues across the state have come under attack in recent weeks. Some leaders from Adhikari's own party had previously condemned these incidents, drawing attention to the issue of political vandalism during the festival.

The Durga Puja season in West Bengal witnesses significant participation from various political organizations and social groups, who traditionally set up stalls and pandals as platforms for community engagement and ideological outreach. However, the proliferation of such activities at religious spaces has increasingly become a flashpoint for political disputes.