Kolkata: CPM will set up book stalls at around 110 Durga Puja pandals across Kolkata, while the BJP plans to expand its presence this year, raising the possibility of friction outside some pandals.CPM Kolkata district secretary Kallol Majumdar told TOI the party would put up around 110 stalls, like last year. BJP workers, meanwhile, are keen to open stalls at pandals where they were allegedly prevented from doing so in previous years after police denied permission.Majumdar said he would write to Lalbazar, requesting police to ensure CPM and BJP book stalls are not located too close to each other.“We have started sending letters to local police stations. I have also planned to write to Lalbazar with a list of all book stalls and Puja pandals where they will come up. Given the sensitivity of the issue this time, the police headquarters must remain informed about the location of our stalls,” Majumdar said on Tuesday. “I will also mention in the letter that bookstalls by BJP and the Left Front should not be too close to avoid friction,” he said.On Sept 10, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari asked Durga Puja committees across Bengal not to allow CPM book stalls outside pandals if they used the term ‘Sharodotsav’ instead of ‘Durga Puja’, accusing the Left of trying to dilute the festival’s religious identity.CPM leaders countered that their stalls are branded as ‘Marxiya o Pragatishil Pustak Bikray Kendra’ or ‘Marxiya o Pragatishil Pustak Bipani’.Some only carry a ‘Sharadotsab-er Suvechha’ greeting.The BJP, buoyed by its first-time victory in the state, is keen to expand its Puja presence.“We used to have between 8 and 10 book stalls till last year. Trinamool and the police did not allow us to set up stalls in many places. This time we will have at least 50 stalls in north Kolkata only,” said Tamoghna Ghosh, BJP’s North Kolkata district president.Multiple pujas in Tala and Chorbagan will have BJP stalls for the first time, he said. The party has long had stalls near Sahitya Parishad and at Lebutala Park. “We are receiving requests from many workers that they want to set up book stalls around pandals,” Ghosh said.Asked about possible friction with CPM workers, he said: “People have distanced themselves from CPM. We don’t need to do anything special.”
