Kolkata: Stalls, draped in red and selling Marxist literature, have for decades been a familiar sight outside Durga Puja pandals in Bengal. The outreach exercise of political parties during the festivities have proved to be useful all along. Bengal BJP, trying to leverage upon the massive footfall near major pandals, is also planning to set up 5,000-odd book stalls during Durga Puja.The aim, said a party functionary, was not only propagating the core philosophy of the party but also use the opportunity to connect with a large cross-section of voters, youth and families during the festive season.“We have set a target of building 5,000 book stalls across Bengal. Nearly 250 stalls will be set up in Kolkata. This is not the first time that the BJP will build book stalls during the puja. But the number will be more this time,” said Debjit Sarkar, spokesperson for the Bengal BJP. According to a party member, the plan is to set up at least 100 stalls in every district.Book stalls by BJP workers during the festive days increased its presence in 2019, after the party secured 18 Lok Sabha seats from the state. The usual sight of stalls stacked with Karl Marx, Frederick Engels and V I Lenin was already changing with the Trinamool coming up with a number of books. BJP gradually made an inroad and showcased books of Swami Vivekananda, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and literature on the achievements of the Modi govt. “Our workers had to fight with Trinamool to secure a spot for a book stall. Stalls were broken, books were thrown out. But the change in the governance has ensured Bengal follows the democratic way,” Sarkar said. The BJP stalls will offer books on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure in office, the life and ideology of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, as well as literature on the history of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Special booklets, highlighting the schemes and achievements of the central and state govts, will be distributed among pandal visitors free of cost. These publications will contain information on investment in the state, beneficiaries of social welfare schemes, administrative reforms, women’s safety and economic empowerment. “It is not about selling books. It’s about making people aware of the sanatani tradition and core philosophy of Hindutva. We will also have books on the performance and achievements of the state govt in the past five months,” said Bengal BJP spokesperson Saptarshi Chowdhury.
