Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 26 (IANS): The 24-hour nationwide trade union strike called on Thursday by the central trade unions barring the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) evoked a total response in Kerala.

The strike has been called to protest against various policies of the Central government.

The shops, markets, offices across Kerala were closed while the main roads were also empty, barring a few private vehicles plying.

The few who arrived at the various railway stations in the trains found themselves sitting at the stations as there were no three wheeler or taxi services.

Likewise the banks also remained non-functional.

The only activity that was witnessed in the state capital was when the official buses of the local ISRO unit here were lined up with the police security to carry the staff in a convoy.

Incidentally Thursday's total shutdown is the first one since the nation went into lockdown mode in March, early this year.