A deserted street in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
For the first time in five years, the BJP called a dawn to dusk strike in Kerala that was almost complete.
The hartal comes as the ruling United Democratic Front - a 9-party alliance led by the Congress - is facing embarrassment after an audio recording was leaked, in which ally Kerala Congress(B) leader Balakrishna Pillai was purportedly heard making allegations of corruption against finance minister KM Mani.
Mr Mani was named in corruption case in last year and despite opposition demands for his removal, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has given him a clean chit.
The charge against Mr Mani involved an allegation that he had demanded a bribe of Rs 5 crore to renew the license of a bar closed by the state government last year. Bar owner Biju Ramesh had alleged that he finally accepted Rs 1cr.
Claiming that the party did not approve of hartals, BJP state president V Muralidharan said this was an "extraordinary situation which calls for extraordinary action."
"These kinds of allegations within the party against its own minister are unheard of in the history of the state. We demand that KM Mani be expelled, the UDF government be dissolved and fresh elections held," he added.
Senior UDF leaders are holding a meeting tomorrow, during which the controversy surrounding Mr Mani and the leaked audio recordings are likely to be discussed.
But the Congress insists that the BJP strike should not be construed as its strength.
"Strikes are also held by recreational forums and similar organisation. People adhere to such calls because they are peace loving," said district Congress president Advocate Mohan Kumar. "The BJP is being opportunist and doesn't stand a chance in Kerala."