Banking operations and public transport were hit in several states as thousands of workers joined a two-day strike against the Union government’s policies. Essential services, however, were not affected.

Nearly a dozen trade unions had called the strike on the issues of privatisation, labour laws, MGNREGA wages and the regularisation of contract workers.

The joint forum of central trade unions said there was a bandh-like situation in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Assam, Haryana and Jharkhand.