Opened to the public in 1874, for more than a century, New Market remained Kolkata's bustling 'elite' market. In recent years, the growing number of hawkers outside has been a peeve point for both traditional shoppers and shopowners. Now, a day after the BJP's Bengal election victory, bulldozers 'mounted by BJP flag waving crowds' reportedly flattened 'makeshift offices of TMC-backed hawker unions' in the area.