Tensions escalated in Kolkata as bulldozers razed multiple structures in the city’s iconic New Market on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) evening. Similar visuals were seen in Murshidabad’s Jiaganj as a Lenin statue was vandalised by a mob. The Trinamool Congress leaders alleged targeted attack by Bharatiya Janta Party workers. 

“In central Kolkata, near New Market. With police permission. As part of victory celebrations, a bulldozer was brought in to demolish meat shops. CAPF standing around. THE BJP FOR YOU,” TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said on his social media. He shared a video of a bulldozer taking on the structures outside New Market. 

Read: Assembly election 2026 results

Since the incident, videos of the bulldozer action have gone viral on social media with netizens criticising the action. According to initial reports, the prime target of the bulldozer action was to bring down the TMC’s New Market union office, which was demolished in the incident.  

In several videos people bearing the BJP flag, atop a bulldozer can be seen chanting “Jai Shri Ram” as they call for the razing down of structures. In the videos, many police and central force personnel were also seen keeping a watch. 

Panicked traders shut down their shops in the British era’s New Market area which is one of the largest markets in the city where traders from across cultures and religious identities have shops since generations. 

TMC launched a sharp criticism of the act on their social media and said, “Before elections: Bhoy out, Bharosa in. (Fear our, Trust in) After elections: Bharosa out, Bulldozer in (Trust out, bulldozer in). BJP’s ‘Poriborton‘ (change) has arrived, and it has arrived with a bulldozer.” 

However, BJP State president Samik Bhattacharya has shared multiple messages with his party workers since May 4 where he has asked no BJP worker or supporter to engage in any form of vandalism or abuse of power. He added that the party will not accept any post-poll violence. 

“If there is any political violence with BJP flags and any TMC offices are attacked, we will remove them from the party,” said Mr. Bhattacharya. 

Another video has surfaced from Murshidabad’s Jiaganj area where a group of BJP supporters were allegedly seen vandalising a statue of Lenin. 

“Yesterday in Jiaganj, BJP workers smashed & brought to the ground a decades-old statue of Lenin claiming they will replace with Shivaji. Enjoy Parivartan,” TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, criticising the incident. 

These videos of vandalism arrived only a day after the BJP won the West Bengal Assembly elections with a sweeping majority and overthrew the 15-year-long TMC regime in the State. 

Many other allegations of vandalism and post poll violence was also reported from several other parts of the State. Few party workers and supporters have been killed and injured on both sides, and many incidents of TMC party office capture and arson have also surfaced.