- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
With less than a month to go before the November 4 New York City mayoral election, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani toured Queens' temples, showing his Hindu heritage and promising policies to benefit immigrant communities. In his visit, Mamdani spoke of his pride in being the first Indian-American candidate for NYC mayor and reiterated his vow to push back against federal immigration enforcement efforts while enhancing multilingual communication throughout the city.
Mamdani, who won the June Democratic mayoral primary, discussed his close ties to the Hindu community, pointing out that his mother is Hindu and that he grew up having a strong respect for the faith. I developed a good sense of what Hinduism is about, and those traditions and values, if it's Raksha Bandhan or Diwali, have been such a big part of my learning the values that I now treasure," he explained. His father, Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani, is Muslim, and there is a rich interfaith upbringing.
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He also reflected personally on his name, Zohran, named after his mother Mira Nair, which means "the first star in the sky." He attributed his family and their common traditions with giving him a strong sense of pride of being an Indian-American. "I am proud that I would be the first Indian-American mayor of this city. I am proud of the fact that my mother's family is Hindu.". And I was brought up with a deep insight, while myself being a Muslim, as to what Hinduism is,
Campaign Momentum And Political Support
Mamdani’s candidacy has gained significant momentum with endorsements from top Democrats, including Kamala Harris. The exit of current Mayor Eric Adams from the race has further tilted the contest in Mamdani’s favour. Alongside former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani is now considered a frontrunner, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa continues to compete for the position.
Controversial Past
Earlier this year, Mamdani faced scrutiny when an old video surfaced showing him leading a protest against India’s ruling BJP government. Despite the controversy, he continues to focus on his mayoral campaign and community engagement, emphasising inclusivity, cultural pride, and support for immigrant residents.
Throughout his temple visits, Mamdani highlighted his dedication to bridging communities and fostering cultural understanding. “I’m proud of my Hindu heritage, I’m proud to be someone who would be the first Muslim mayor of this city, and I’m proud to hold all of those things together,” he said, reflecting his commitment to represent New York’s diverse population.