Shillong, May 31 (IANS): The nation-wide shutdown called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Thursday to protest against the recent steep hike in petrol prices evoked mixed response in Congress-ruled Meghalaya.

Although some educational institutions and shops were closed in Shillong and fewer than usual vehicles were seen plying on the roads, government offices, courts and financial institutions functioned normally in the state.

"All government institutions are functioning normally, markets are open and we are not aware if any of the private institutions have closed on their own," East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal told IANS.

However, the Meghalaya BJP unit claimed that the shutdown was successful.

"This is the first time that the people in our state (Meghalaya) have supported our protest against the hike in petrol prices. They are upset with the anti-people policies of the Congress-led government at the centre," Meghalaya BJP unit general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (youth wing) have demanded an immediate rollback of the recent petrol hike and urged the state government to take appropriate steps.

The UDP, a key ally in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government, said the party is very disturbed by the recent hike in petrol prices.