Kolkata : The 12-hour bandh called separately by the Left Front and BJP in West Bengal on Thursday evoked mix responses. The bandh was called to protest against the alleged terror created by the ruling Trinamool Congress during the municipal elections, held in the state on April 18 and April 25. While the Mamata Banerjee-led state government claimed that the bandh yielded a partial response, both the BJP and Left Front leadership said that the bandh was a total success. They alleged that the Trinamool Congress supporters forcibly prevented people from observing the bandh.
The city of Kolkata wore a deserted look as most forms of public transport remained off the roads. Only a few were seen moving with a minimal number of passengers. Metro Railway services were normal. But train movement on both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railways routes in Howrah and Sealdah were affected as the bandh supporters squatted on the railway tracks in different rail stations. Plane movement was not affected in the Netaji Subhas Bose International Airport. But flight passengers faced a problem due to the scarcity of taxis.
Undergraduate examinations of Calcutta University were held according to schedule. The attendance of examinees was normal, a source in the university said. Nearly 80,000 students appeared for the examination. Attendance in government offices were thin, despite the state government announcing that if anyone was found absent during the day, one day’s salary would be deducted.