A handsome young man wearing a T-shirt and jeans was being arrested by the New York police. The young man was protesting for workers' rights. That was four years ago. Now, the same Zohran Mamdani has won a historic victory in the New York mayoral election with the votes of workers and low-income people. Many things happened in his victory that have never happened before in the American capital. Mamdani won by challenging the entire political establishment in the United States.
Mamdani, 34, who fought for the working class in the election held last Tuesday, won by a record margin. He received nearly 200,000 more votes than his opponent. He also became the second youngest mayor in US history. Previously, New York had its first youngest mayor in 1892. Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor in New York's history.
Mamdani's dream journey to becoming mayor was not easy; or perhaps many more challenges await him ahead. But will a fighter who never gives up stop? His path to victory was paved for many reasons. The powerful Jewish lobby in the United States has worked against Mamdani, a harsh critic of Israel's aggression in Gaza.
Billionaires like Elon Musk were directly campaigning against him. Musk has poured money into the anti-Mamdani campaign on his own social media platform, X.
The entire wealthy community of the United States took to the field to oppose the Democratic candidate Mamdani. It is said that the powerful Deep State or secret government was active against him. President Donald Trump himself opposed Mamdani. In the end, to stop him, he supported his rival Andrew Cuomo instead of his own party's candidate Curtis Slywa. He also announced the closure of federal government funding. But the unwavering support of New York residents brought Mamdani a big victory.
"New York has shown it," Mamdani said in his first speech to supporters in Brooklyn after his victory. "It's a glimmer of light in the political darkness." "If you're an immigrant, a transgender community member, or one of the countless black women Trump has fired from federal jobs; if you're a single mother waiting for the price of groceries to come down; or anyone whose back is against the wall -- we stand with you," he said.
New York's first Muslim mayor said, "You can't win elections in New York by bringing Islamophobia." Addressing President Trump, Mamdani said, "Donald Trump, I know you're watching. I just want to say four words to you - turn up the volume a little." He said that New York City has shown how to defeat Trump.
Zohraan Mamdani's father, Mahmud Mamdani, is of Gujarati origin from India. Mother, Mira Nair, is also Indian. Paying tribute to her parents, Mamdani said, 'The person I have become is because of you. I am proud to be your child.' Many also see a big role in Mamdani's Syrian-born artist wife, Rama Duaji, in the big win.
Mamdani, a socialist politician, is a staunch critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He blamed Modi for the Gujarat riots. He also said that he would not meet Modi. In this situation, Modi's supporters opposed him in the elections. However, most of the Indian-origin immigrants supported Mamdani. While a section of Jews opposed him, another section was with him. Everything was overshadowed by the support of his own party leader Bernie Sanders. Sanders held rallies in New York several times and campaigned for Mamdani. Therefore, Mamdani's victory is indirectly Bernie's as well. At the same time, it is also being seen as a resurgence of Democrats in the United States.