2LT International News

NEW DELHI, India: Indians flooded social media this week to celebrate Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor, after he thanked his Indian-born parents, quoted India’s first prime minister, and turned his victory rally into a Bollywood-style street celebration. But reactions have been mixed.

“We are proud of him. He has done a great job,” said Mamdani’s maternal uncle Vikram Nair, speaking to The Associated Press. He said he has received numerous requests from friends and family to host celebrations. “We will plan it soon,” he added, noting they would love for Mamdani to join.

At the same time, some in India criticized the attention being lavished on the newly elected mayor. “It’s that season again, when India’s self-proclaimed urban intelligentsia will obsess over Zohran Mamdani’s New York mayoral win, yet have no clue who their own city’s mayor is!” lawmaker Milind Deora posted on social media.

Mamdani, 34, was born in Uganda and is set to become New York’s youngest mayor in over 100 years — and its first Muslim mayor — when he assumes office on January 1.

During his energetic victory speech, Mamdani referenced Jawaharlal Nehru’s landmark “Tryst with Destiny” address from the eve of India’s independence in 1947. “Tonight, we have stepped out from the old into the new,” he said, echoing Nehru’s words.

As he wrapped up his remarks, the title song from the Bollywood hit film Dhoom blared from the speakers, while Mamdani stood with his parents and his wife, Rama Duwaji. Nair later shared a post from filmmaker Zoya Akhtar that read, “Zohran, you beauty,” accompanied by heart emojis. References to his Indian heritage were also featured in his campaign videos, including popular Bollywood movie lines.

There has been no official response from the Indian government, but Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor praised Mamdani’s “spectacular victory,” calling it “wonderfully apt!” in a social media post.

Support for Mamdani has grown thanks to his inclusive outreach and embrace of his Muslim and Indian identity. But some have voiced concern over his past comments, calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “war criminal” — accusations tied to 2002 riots in Gujarat, which Modi was later cleared of by a Supreme Court-authorized investigation.

Elsewhere, London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed Mamdani’s win, calling it “a fantastic victory” and praising New Yorkers for choosing “hope over fear.” Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won by promising to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy to fund left-wing proposals, including free childcare, free city buses, and a rent freeze.

Khan, who has faced Islamophobia in his own political career, said Mamdani’s religion “is almost beside the point,” arguing his appeal came from policies voters related to. Khan has also clashed with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously labeled him a “stone-cold loser.” Khan, re-elected in 2021 and 2024, has described Trump as racist, sexist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic.