Setback for Trump; Zohran Mamdani becomes first Muslim mayor of New York 

WASHINGTON: Indian origin Democratic candidate and state assembly member Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral election. Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Zohran Mamdani is the son of renowned Indian film director Mira Nair and Ugandan writer and Indian-origin Mahmood Mamdani.

Nearly 85 lakh people voted. The voting began at 6 am local time on Tuesday. Voting continued until 9 pm (7.30 am Indian time on Wednesday).

Born in Uganda, Mamdani grew up in New York. 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani is the first Indian-American Muslim to become mayor in the history of New York City. A socialist leader, Mamdani has promised to reduce the cost of living in New York City and improve the quality of life for ordinary people. He has promised free travel on government's city buses, child welfare program, solving the housing crisis, and raising the corporate tax rate.

President Donald Trump, who accused Mamdani of being an illegal immigrant, threatened to take over the city and the arrest and deport him if he won. Trump had also said that he will cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani wins the election. The New York City mayoral, Virginia, and New Jersey gubernatorial elections are crucial for Trump and Democrats alike. Trump has repeatedly said that Mamdani is a communist. However, his stand is that he is a democratic socialist.