From quoting Nehru to playing ‘Dhoom Machale’: How Zohran Mamdani channelled his inner Indian after NYC victory — watch

Zohran Mamdani celebrated his historic win the same way he campaigned: loud, defiant, and unmistakably Indian. The 34-year-old democratic socialist, who has rocketed from state lawmaker to Mayor of America’s largest city, marked his victory by quoting Jawaharlal Nehru before turning the rally into a Bollywood-style street party.

Addressing thousands of cheering supporters in Brooklyn, the newly-elected mayor began with a quote from India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, telling the crowd: “A moment comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed finds utterance. Tonight, New York has done just that.”



In a speech that lasted under 30 minutes, Mamdani framed his victory as the dawn of a “new age” for the city. Supporters roared as he repeated core campaign promises — free buses, universal childcare and a freeze on soaring rents, pledges he said would deliver “the most ambitious plan yet to confront our city’s cost-of-living crisis.” He called the night a clear message to the political establishment: “In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light.”


His supporters marked the night with campaign posters, the New York City flag, and a final flourish that turned the rally into a Bollywood-style celebration. As Mamdani finished speaking, speakers blasted the Hindi hit “Dhoom Machale”, a choice that sent the crowd dancing.


Mamdani was born in Kampala to filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani. The family moved to New York when he was seven, and he only became a naturalised US citizen in 2018.

During his address post victory, Mamdani did not shy away from addressing the man who attacked him throughout the campaign. “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.” The crowd erupted.

Addressing the 47th POTUS, he warned: “To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.” As Mamdani delivered his sharpest lines, Trump posted on Truth Social: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!”.

A mayor who ran on hope — and won big

Mamdani repeatedly used one word: “hope” during his speech, echoing the political energy of Barack Obama. “Today we have spoken in a clear voice: hope is alive,” he said, adding that New Yorkers had “toppled a political dynasty” after defeating Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa

Tuesday’s result was a political earthquake. Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a race that saw record voter turnout. He won more votes than any mayoral candidate since the 1960s, building a coalition of working-class families, immigrants, young voters and disillusioned Democrats. Even attacks funded by multi-million-dollar super PACs could not stop him.

He campaigned on one theme: affordability. From free buses and universal childcare to freezing rents and launching city-owned grocery stores, Mamdani promised radical solutions to New York’s cost-of-living crisis. “I will wake up each morning with a singular purpose: to make this city better for you than it was the day before,” he told New Yorkers earlier.

Mamdani will be the first Muslim, the first Indian-origin, the first born in Africa, and the youngest one in more than a century when he becomes New York Mayor on January 1.