With the 2026 Assembly elections drawing closer, political parties in West Bengal have already begun their ground preparations. The CPI(M), despite facing repeated setbacks in recent years, is now attempting to revive its public connect through a familiar strategy — book stalls during Durga Puja.
According to the party’s Kolkata district leadership, 119 book stalls have been set up across the city this year. From large-scale setups at Jadavpur, Baghbazar and Netajinagar to smaller stalls wrapped in red cloth along alleys and main roads, the Marxist party is trying to reach puja visitors directly. Senior leader Rabin Deb claimed that the number could touch 2,000 stalls across the state.
Unlike earlier years when party stalls primarily displayed political literature and Marxist propaganda, this year’s collection is more diverse. Plays, poems, and essays by former Chief Minister late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, works by late Sitaram Yechury, as well as books on politics, economics, history, philosophy and biographies are on display. Children’s literature, translations and even books on artificial intelligence have been included to attract younger readers.
Party leaders say the effort is also aimed at highlighting Bengali literature and culture, which they allege are under threat in the BJP-ruled states.
The CPI(M) has instructed its workers not to leave stalls unattended. Volunteers have been asked to sit in shifts from evening to late night to ensure a constant presence.
“It is not enough to just be seen at the pandals. We have to attract the visitors,” local leaders have told cadres, emphasising active engagement with the crowd.
Before 2011, when the CPI(M) was in power, book stalls were a central part of Durga Puja festivities. Visitors to pandals often thronged the stalls and buying books was seen as a show of allegiance. But the situation has changed. Many stalls outside major pandals remain empty as the night progresses, reflecting the party’s declining influence.
There are, however, exceptions. Stalls in Jadavpur’s 8-B area and in Baghbazar continue to draw crowds. “These are proof of public interest in the party. But the enthusiasm at book stalls does not necessarily convert into electoral support,” said Bishnupriya Dutta Gupta, a professor of political science.
While the CPI(M) hopes to leverage the festive footfall to reconnect with people, the larger question remains — will the presence at book stalls translate into votes? That answer, as many point out, will only come from the ballot box in the 2026 Assembly elections.
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