The unions included the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) and the All India Trade Union Congress (Aituc).

Even though rail services were supposed to be exempted from the strike, no trains ran in the state and the metro services were stopped after some people squatted on the tracks at some stations. No planes took off or landed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The strike was partially successful at the Calcutta port and the Calcutta mint where some employees attended work. The Calcutta Stock Exchange opened as usual at 1000 hrs, but was later closed due to `unavoidable circumstances.'

Shops and markets in Burrabazar, the main centre for trading activities, also remained closed. Most shops and establishments downed their shutters as mostworkers unions participated in the strike.

Citu West Bengal committee general secretary Chittabrata Majumdar addressed a joint press conference along with leaders of Aituc, Utuc and other trade unions.

"We are not concerned about the political implications of the strike. The policies being followed by the government are anti-working class, and we are demanding a change," Majumdar said. Majumdar said most of the shops and offices in the state remained closed on the day. The demand for electricity fell by 813mw to 1,695mw.

The centre should review its economic and industrial policies following the day's successful strike if it had any faith in `democratic movements,' he said. "Otherwise, we would launch a bigger agitation. We may even call an industrial strike for three or four days on an all India level which will force the government to change its policy." Majumdar also said that more than 50 trade union organisations including Citu, Intuc and Aituc will participate in a convention on July 14 to chalkout a strategy to counter the policies of the government.

Prior to the convention a mass demonstration will be held outside the parliament building by members of all the trade unions, he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has charged the ruling Left Front with imposing a total bandh on the people of West Bengal in the name of industrial strike and said that it will further affect the state's industrial scene.