United News of Bangladesh

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, has been elected mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s first Muslim leader and its youngest mayor in decades. Mamdani defeated independent candidate and former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who sought a political comeback four years after resigning amid scandal. His victory marks a generational and ideological shift in city politics, fueled by grassroots organizing and strong support from young and working-class voters. President Donald Trump closely followed the race and repeatedly attacked Mamdani, falsely calling him a communist and threatening to withhold federal funds from New York if he won. Trump endorsed Cuomo on the eve of the election, bypassing Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. At Mamdani’s victory party, supporters danced to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” as tenants’ rights activist Joanne Grill declared, “We beat the millionaires and billionaires — little old us, working-class New Yorkers are taking this city back.” At Cuomo’s election night gathering, the mood was somber as guests quietly departed while Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” played in the background. Zohran Mamdani defends Muslim identity amid “racist and baseless” attacks Republican Curtis Sliwa conceded the race but warned that he would “mobilize” his supporters if Mamdani pursued socialist policies. “We will become the mayor-elect and his supporters’ worst enemies,” he said to a cheering crowd, accusing “some of the most powerful people in the world” of opposing his campaign. In another closely watched contest, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured reelection against Republican Maud Maron and independent Diana Florence. Bragg, who oversaw the hush-money case that led to Trump’s historic conviction, focused his campaign on reducing gun violence, prosecuting hate crimes, and expanding mental health services. Bragg, who avoided mentioning Trump during the campaign, said his office has helped reduce murders and shootings, though his opponents argued he has not been tough enough on crime. As news of Mamdani’s win spread, jubilant supporters waved New York City flags and chanted his name as Bad Bunny tracks blared — a moment marking a new chapter in the city’s political history. Read more: Mamdani's political upset inspires hope among South Asian, Muslim New Yorkers Source: AP 

Zohran Mamdani's rise has sparked hope among many of New York City's more than 300,000 South Asian residents. For comedian Hari Kondabolu, who has been friends with Mamdani for 15 years, the candidate's success in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary feels like a personal victory. “My mom was texting her friends to vote for him. I’ve never seen my mother do that before,” Kondabolu shared. “So the idea that it’s gotten our whole family activated in this way — this is, like, personal.” Mamdani shocked the city’s political establishment on Tuesday when he claimed victory in the primary, a ranked choice election where his main opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, ultimately conceded. When Mamdani launched his campaign, the democratic socialist was considered a long shot. Now, the 33-year-old state assemblyman stands poised to become New York City’s first Asian American and Muslim mayor. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to the United States at age 7 and became a citizen in 2018. For Kondabolu, this moment is deeply significant. “I think so many of us have had those experiences in New York of being brown and in a city that has always been really diverse and feels like ours. But after 9/11, like you start to question it like, is this our city too,” he explained. “And 25 years later ... it’s surreal, like this is the same city but it’s not because we’ve elected this person.” Mamdani’s campaign has captured the attention of South Asian communities — including Indian, Pakistani, and other groups — and many Muslims, even among those who may not align with all his views. For some, his success symbolizes progress in a city that has seen waves of racism and xenophobia, especially following the September 11 attacks. Snigdha Sur, founder and CEO of The Juggernaut, a media outlet focusing on South Asians, observed how Mamdani’s rise has resonated beyond U.S. borders. “So many global South Asians ... they’re like, ‘Oh, this guy is my mayor and I don’t live in New York City,’” Sur noted. Still, Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — whom he labeled a “war criminal” — has sparked anger and concern in some circles. In Michigan, Thasin Sardar has been closely following Mamdani’s political journey online. He was immediately drawn to Mamdani's authenticity. “As a Muslim American, this victory puts my trust back in the people,” said Sardar, who was born and raised in India. “I am happy that there are people who value the candidate and his policies more than his personal religious beliefs and didn’t vote him down because of the color of his skin, or the fact that he was an immigrant with an uncommon name.” Zainab Shabbir, a New York City voter, said her family in California and elsewhere have been excited by the news. “My family in California, they were very much like, ‘Oh, it’s so nice to see a South Asian Muslim candidate be a mayor of a major city,’” she said. She added that her brother believes Mamdani’s success sets a strong example for his children. However, for Shabbir, Mamdani’s political platform was the real motivation behind her support. The 34-year-old, who donated to his campaign, voted for him, and canvassed, said his vision for the city resonated. She met Mamdani briefly at a fundraiser and described him as “very friendly and genuine.” She believes his campaign could inspire political engagement among more Muslim Americans, particularly those more focused on politics in their home countries. “There’s a lot of Muslim communities like my parents’ generation who are focused a lot more on the politics back home and less on the politics here in America,” said Shabbir. “Seeing people like Zohran Mamdani be in office, it’ll really change that perspective in a lot of people.” Best South Indian Movies Releasing in July 2025 Proudly Embracing Heritage Observers agree that Mamdani’s campaign blended authenticity and effective use of social media. He made visits to numerous mosques and incorporated Hindi and Bollywood references in campaign videos. His approach has been praised by other South Asian American politicians, including Representative Ro Khanna. “I love that he didn’t run away from his heritage. I mean, he did video clips with Amitabh Bachchan and Hindi movies,” Khanna said, referencing the iconic Indian actor. “He shows that one can embrace their roots and their heritage and yet succeed in American politics.” But Khanna emphasized that Mamdani's victory is also rooted in addressing pressing economic concerns. “The urgency of the economic message, the challenge that people are facing in terms of rent, in terms of the cost of living, and how speaking to that is so powerful,” he added. Tanzeela Rahman, a 29-year-old financial systems analyst and daughter of Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants, described her upbringing in New York as “very low income” and said Mamdani’s campaign made her feel represented. “I felt seen by him in a way politicians have not seen me ever,” she said. “I think very few people in government understand … how hard it is to survive in New York City.” Rahman called Mamdani “unabashedly Muslim” and viewed him as “a voice, who, literally, to me sounds like a New Yorker who’s stepping in and saying, hey, let’s reclaim our power.” Though Mamdani champions working-class issues, he comes from a well-known, educated family. His mother is filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Columbia University professor. He grew up in Queens and attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. Kondabolu remembered Mamdani showing an interest in social justice even as a teenager. While Mamdani’s policies — such as pushing for affordable housing and free bus service — might not directly appeal to wealthier South Asian households in New York, his campaign still found unexpected support among them, according to Sur. “It was, I think, a surprise that he did so well among the wealthiest, including his own community,” Sur observed. Mamdani’s strong advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza have drawn both praise and backlash. While his stance attracted support from pro-Palestinian groups, including many Muslims, it has also led to criticism from some Jewish organizations. Still, he has received endorsements from certain Jewish politicians and activists. Facing Racism and Islamophobia Following Mamdani's win, conservative figures reacted with xenophobic and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Charlie Kirk, a right-wing media personality, posted that “legal immigration can ruin your country.” In response, Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress, wrote, “For years they sold people the lie of ‘we have no problem if you come the right way!’” Despite such backlash, Mamdani’s supporters believe bigotry won’t derail his momentum. Those sentiments clearly weren’t “enough for him to lose” the primary, said Kondabolu. “There’s a new generation that wants their voice heard and that generation came out in full force, not just by voting, but by, like, getting all these other people to be emotionally invested in this candidate,” Kondabolu said. “That’s extraordinary.”