BJP's West Bengal bandh against civic poll violence evokes mixed response

The BJP has called the bandh protesting against what it called "unprecedented violence, attacks, arson and complete failure of the law and order machinery" during Sunday's civic polls across the state.

The Mamata Banerjee government has issued a notification and announced that besides the public agencies, all the government-aided institutions would remain open on Monday and no leave would be granted to any employee.

Both public and private transport were on the road in Kolkata, vital railways stations Howrah, Sealdah and Shalimar were busy as usual and flight movement from and to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was normal, official sources said.

Bandh supporters, however, enforced shutdown in parts of North Bengal, including, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Darjeeling districts.

Reports coming from the districts said the bandh supporters, carrying BJP flags, tried to disrupt train services at various stations by squatting on the tracks.

Tension ran high in some of the districts as the bandh supporters and opponents gathered at various points.

The Trinamool Congress has opposed the bandh.

The BJP also plans to stage sit-ins on every road in the cities, towns and rural areas during the day to protest the "election fraud" allegedly committed by the ruling party.

After Sunday's elections to 108 civic bodies ended, the BJP sent separate delegations to the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, urging them to declare polling to all the booths “null and void”.