Zohran Mamdani likely to win despite Trump’s attacks

New Delhi, Nov 04: Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assembly member from Queens, is on the verge of making history. The Ugandan-born, Indian-origin politician is leading the race to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, despite facing sharp criticism from President Donald Trump. Mamdani, a Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, was born in Uganda to well-known parents, his mother Mira Nair, a well known face and name in India and abroad, the acclaimed Indian filmmaker behind Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay!, and his father Mahmood Mamdani, a respected academic. The family moved to New York when Zohran was seven.

In June, Mamdani scored a surprise victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo is now running as an independent, while Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, is far behind in the polls.

Recent surveys show Mamdani clearly ahead of both rivals as New Yorkers vote on Tuesday. His campaign has focused on bold social reforms including free city buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare aimed at making life easier for working families.

But his rise has drawn fire from President Trump, who on Monday night urged voters to support Cuomo instead. “Whether you like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Mamdani is not capable of it!” International media reported thar Trump went further, warning that he would give New York only “the very minimum” in federal funding if Mamdani becomes mayor. The president even called Mamdani a “communist”, a label the candidate rejects. “I’ll treat that for what it is, a threat, not the law,” Mamdani said in response.

While in New York and most of the analysts say that Trump’s comments have only strengthened Mamdani, the young politician’s chances to win by margin. They see him as part of a new generation of leaders reshaping America’s cities with ideas focused on equity, diversity, and opportunity. Known for his approachable style, Mamdani often mixes languages, English, Urdu, and Spanish, in campaign messages and has even used Bollywood clips in his videos. He carries on his sleeves, his culture and religion and feel proud of it. Married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist living in Brooklyn, he represents the multicultural face of modern New York.

If Mamdani wins, he will not only be the city’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor but also its youngest in more than a century. For many New Yorkers, his rise from community organiser to front-runner shows how far the city and American politics have come. As the polls open, New Yorkers face a clear choice between three sharply different candidates. But all eyes are on Zohran Mamdani, the progressive lawmaker whose message of inclusion and change may soon make him the new face of America’s largest city.