Workers of the Trinamool Congress celebrate after the party swept the civic polls in West Bengal. (Press Trust of India)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to the Left and the BJP to call off their separate statewide bandh on Thursday to protest "rigging and murder of democracy" in the just-concluded civic elections.
If they go ahead with the bandh, she will oppose them politically and administratively, she warned.
"I appeal to the CPM and the BJP to withdraw their bandh. We have a statewide programme that day. And why have they called the bandh? You shouldn't have got any seats in the polls but you have," Ms Banerjee said.
While the BJP has reduced its bandh call from 12 hours to 10, the Left has not. In fact, the Left-backed trade unions have called a 24-hour bandh on the same day. There is an all-India transport strike that day. An IPL match at Eden Gardens is scheduled for that day too.
"I urge shops and all establishments to stay open on the 30th. Don't indulge the bandh callers. The CPM trade union CITU does not run the country or Bengal, nor does the BJP," Ms Banerjee said.
"The government will pay compensation if there is any damage to shops on the 30th," she added.
Taking a dig at the BJP and the CPM calling the bandh on the same day, Ms Banerjee said, "They have no ideology anyway. The CPM has ruined Bengal in the last 34 years with its bandh culture. Now there will be no bandh or strike in Bengal anymore."
The Chief Minister has asked Trinamool workers to oppose the bandh peacefully.
"Trinamool workers will take out processions to oppose the bandh," Ms Banerjee said.