However, she did not make it clear as to why the dharna at Ballygunge Phari, a short distance away from Chief Minister's south Kolkata residence, was called off even though the arrested persons were not released.

She said their agitation will continue and "we have the support of lakhs of people with us".

TC-backed autorickshaw and taxidrivers unions have called a 12-hour autorickshaw and taxi strike in the city from 6 am on Saturday.

TC activists led by Banerjee were protesting alleged police repression against the drivers and party supporters of two-stroke autorickshaws.

TC leaders will also bring out a procession in the city during the day against alleged police repression.

Meanwhile, CPM State Secretary Biman Bose accused Banerjee's agitation as an attempt to "create a semi-Fascist atmosphere of terror" in West Bengal by allowing anti-social elements to hijack the campaign last night.

"CPM would organise a state-wide procession on Saturday in protest against the manner in which TC has been pushing the state towards disaster," Bose said.

Bose said that never in the past a political party had attempted to gherao Chief Minister's residence at the dead of night.

During the day, autorickshaw owners and drivers allegedly burnt a government bus and stoned and damaged four others in south Kolkata leading to the arrest of five.

Sounding a warning, CPM central committee member Shyamal Chakraborty termed the TC agitation as "irresponsible".

The people will not accept such irresponsible acts by TC. Everyone has the right to demonstrate in a democratic way, but "this kind of provocative action could not be accepted," Chakraborty said.