New Delhi/New York – Indian-origin New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has stirred controversy in India after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. The 33-year-old democratic socialist’s victory has drawn sharp criticism from leaders across the political spectrum, including both the Congress and the BJP, reported the Hindustan Times.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to social media platform X, saying, “When Zohran Mamdani opens his mouth, Pakistan’s PR team takes a day off. India doesn’t need enemies with ‘allies’ like him shouting fiction from New York.” The comment alludes to Mamdani’s vocal criticism of Indian government policies and his stance on Kashmir, which some in India view as sympathetic to Pakistan’s narrative.
Adding fuel to the fire, BJP MP and actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut also launched an attack on Mamdani, questioning his national loyalty. “His mother is Mira Nair, a celebrated filmmaker and Padma Shri awardee born in Bharat, and his father Mahmood Mamdani, a respected author of Gujarati origin. But their son Zohran sounds more Pakistani than Indian,” she claimed.
Mamdani, who represents Queens in the New York State Assembly, is known for his progressive platform and grassroots activism. He has built a strong base among New Yorkers by focusing on housing, healthcare, and public safety, aiming to unseat incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in the general election later this year.
While the final vote count in New York City’s ranked-choice system will resume on July 1, Mamdani currently holds a commanding lead, making a Cuomo comeback highly unlikely. His upset victory has been described as a political jolt, not only for unseating a seasoned figure like Cuomo but also for signaling a shift in the Democratic base post their loss to Republican President Donald Trump.
As Mamdani prepares to take on Eric Adams and a possible Republican challenger in the general election, the reaction in India has added an unexpected layer to his campaign narrative — placing him at the intersection of local American politics and international diplomatic sensitivities.
