One strike, two conclusions

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and rival Left Front drew their own conclusions from the outcome of the general strike called by central trade unions on Wednesday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said bandhs had no future, adding that Left parties were trying to survive by resorting to them frequently. On their part, members of the Opposition Left accused the state government of using "anti-democratic measures" to thwart the strike, and concluded that the chief minister had opposed the strike to present herself as a "valuable ally" of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre.