Meet Zohran Mamdani: Indian-origin NYC’s mayoral candidate, son of director Mira Nair
New York: In a stunning political upset, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in a high-stakes ranked-choice primary held Tuesday night.
“I will be the mayor for every New Yorker, whether you voted for me, for governor Cuomo, or felt too disillusioned by a long-broken political system to vote at all,” Mamdani told his supporters.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, on October 18, 1991, Mamdani is the son of acclaimed Indian-origin filmmaker Mira Nair and Indian-born Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani. He spent his early years in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New York City at age of seven.
Educated at the Bank Street School, Bronx High School of Science, and Bowdoin College, where he earned a degree in Africana Studies, Mamdani’s path to politics was shaped by activism. As a college student, he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, laying the foundation for his progressive ethos.
Mamdani’s organising work spans several grassroots campaigns, including those of Khader El-Yateem, Ross Barkan, and Tiffany Cabán. In 2019, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing Astoria and Long Island City.
His legislative agenda has focused on affordable housing, immigrant rights, and public transit—themes that also defined his mayoral campaign.
A practicing Shia Muslim, Mamdani recently married Syrian artist Rama Duwaji. His campaign has drawn from his cultural heritage, using Bollywood-inspired messaging such as “roti, kapda, aur makaan”—a slogan from the 1974 classic of the same name—to advocate for basic economic dignity.
His historic candidacy has galvanised younger, left-leaning voters, and with the Democratic nomination in hand, Mamdani, if elected in November, would become New York City’s first Muslim and first Indian-American mayor—a milestone in the city’s political history.
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Nagaland bypoll: Nearly 20 pc voter turnout recorded in Koridang seat in first two hours
Kohima (PTI): Nearly 20 per cent of 22,382 electors exercised their franchise in Nagaland's Koridang Assembly bypoll in the first two hours of polling on Thursday, officials said.
The voting that commenced at 7 am across all 30 polling stations has so far been peaceful, they said.
The polling will continue till 4 pm.
Security has been significantly tightened across the constituency following violence on April 5 and 6, in which one person died, and several vehicles were damaged.
The byelection was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November last year.
A total of 22,382 electors, including 11,071 women, are eligible to decide the fate of six candidates in the fray.
The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) has fielded BJP nominee Daochier I. Imchen, while the Congress candidate is T. Chalukumba Ao. The National People’s Party (NPP) has nominated I. Abenjang, while the Independent candidates are Imchatoba Imchen, Imtiwapang, and Toshikaba.
Of the 30 polling stations, 13 have been categorised as vulnerable and 17 as critical, prompting deployment of additional security personnel and intensified surveillance measures. Two polling stations have been designated as all-women booths.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
