Life partially hit in Bengal by general strike

Normal life was partially hit in West Bengal today following a 12-hour general strike called by opposition parties to protest against alleged violence and malpractices in the just-held civic polls.
While the Left parties and the trade unions called a 12-hour general strike, the BJP gave a call for 10-hour bandh to protest against alleged violence and malpractices by TMC in the municipal elections.
A large fleet of state-run buses plied although the number of passengers was less. Private buses and taxis were also seen on the streets though their number was less compared to other working days.
Train services on the Eastern and South Eastern railway were normal although Eastern railway officials here said that suburban services in the Sealdah south section were hit for sometime in the morning due to blockades at some stations.

Metro Rail services were operating normally, Metro officials said.
Shops, markets and business establishments at some areas remained closed.

State secretariat sources said that government offices here including "Nabanna", the secretariat, recorded 95 per cent attendance while it was 98 per cent in the government offices in the districts.
Airport sources said that flights of Air India and other airlines operated normally to and from N S C Bose International Airport.
However, passengers at the airport faced inconvenience due to inadequate number of taxis available at the airport.
A senior Kolkata Police official said, "Although buses are plying, the number of passengers was less."

A state-run bus was damaged on College Street in north Kolkata and another at Golabari in Howrah district, the police said.
Though the sponsors of the general strike claimed success, the ruling Trinamool Congress said the people had ignored the strike call.
TMC secretary general and Education minister Partha Chatterjee said they have tried to stall the state's development by calling bandh, but the people have rejected it.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose however claimed that the strike was "total".
State BJP president Rahul Sinha said that the people have "made the bandh a success".