New Delhi: After London’s historic election of a Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, headlines are now buzzing with the potential rise of another Muslim leader—Zohran Mamdani—as the next Mayor of New York City. His recent victory in the Democratic primary has not only made him the official Democratic candidate for the November 2025 mayoral elections but has also stirred unease among right-wing politicians in both the United States and India, reported the New York Times.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-origin democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is the son of renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and acclaimed author Mahmood Mamdani. Despite his American citizenship, his strong anti-Israel stance and vocal support for the Palestinian cause have drawn sharp criticism from conservative quarters worldwide.
Reacting to Mamdani’s primary win on Thursday (June 26), former U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out on his social media platform Truth Social, calling Mamdani a “100% communist nut job” and labeling his mayoral run as “absurd.” Trump further attacked Mamdani’s appearance, voice, and intellect, and mocked his association with progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her allies.
Trump wasn’t alone. In India, BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut also launched a scathing attack. Referring to Mamdani’s Indian heritage, she remarked that he “looks more Pakistani than Indian.” Ranaut highlighted his lineage—his mother being Padma Shri awardee Mira Nair—and questioned, “What happened to his Hindu roots and Hindu blood that he is now hell-bent on destroying Hinduism?” She described his politics as part of a larger, global anti-Hindu agenda.
Zohran Mamdani, who traces his roots to Gujarat, has previously criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. His political ideology and longstanding solidarity with Palestine—dating back to his student days—remain a central theme of his activism. In a recent interview, Mamdani made waves by stating that, if elected mayor, he would seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes, leveraging the fact that the United Nations headquarters is located in New York.
His stance has been both controversial and groundbreaking in a city that hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel. Observers note that his growing popularity reflects a shift in American public opinion, especially among younger and progressive voters, regarding the Palestinian issue.
Mamdani’s main opponent in the primary was 67-year-old former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had hoped to revive his political career despite past allegations of sexual misconduct. However, Mamdani’s fresh vision and grassroots appeal triumphed, with Cuomo conceding defeat.
If elected in November, Mamdani will become the first Muslim Mayor of New York City—a symbolic and substantive moment in American political history.
