Tepid response to Left bandh against TMC

Kolkata: The six-hour statewide bandh called by the Left Front protesting the alleged violence by the Trinamul Congress on the Opposition parties' candidates during the filing of nominations for the panchayat elections failed to leave any impact in the state on Friday as public life remained normal with the transport services running in full swing since morning while shops and markets keeping open. 

The bandh, during which the Left parties had planned to slam the ruling party over continuous attacks on the opposition candidates for filing nominations, became insignificant after the Calcutta high court stayed the poll process on Thursday in a major blow to the Mamata Banerjee government and West Bengal State Election Commission.

The Left workers took out rallies to observe the bandh which was called from 6 am to 12 pm. 

Left Front chairman Biman Bose said, "The bandh was called to protest the programme undertaken by the ruling party to destroy democracy and loot the citizens' democratic rights ahead of the panchayat polls and to press for a peaceful polls. 

Meanwhile the court gave its ruling.

He added, “As a result different questions were raised. Still we did not call off the bandh because we wanted to show our protest before the people of the state. We did not play a violent role to make the bandh successful. We will take out a rally on April 16 to announce our next programme.” Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “It would be wrong even it the bandh is termed as a 'total failure.' It must be noted that the people of the state rejected the call for bandh at all levels.”