India-origin Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York city’s groundbreaking Mayor at midnight

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in just after midnight at Manhattan’s historic, decommissioned City Hall subway station, marking a historic milestone as New York city’s first Muslim, South Asian, and Africa-born Mayor at age 34.

A democratic socialist, Mamdani took the oath with his hand on a Quran, signaling a new era of inclusive leadership for America’s largest city.

In a brief but powerful inaugural speech, Mamdani hailed the subway station as a symbol of the vital role public transit plays in the city’s health and legacy. He immediately announced his choice for Transportation Commissioner, Mike Flynn, underscoring his commitment to addressing the city’s chronic transit challenges.

Mamdani’s rise to office positions him among the youngest mayors in recent history, charged with tackling one of the world’s most complex urban landscapes. His campaign championed radical affordability measures — including free childcare, free bus rides, a rent freeze affecting about one million households, and a pilot city-run grocery program — aiming to ease the crushing cost of living that burdens millions of New Yorkers.

Born in Kampala, Uganda, to acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he immigrated to New York at age seven, growing up amid post-9/11 tensions. Since becoming an American citizen in 2018, Mamdani has steadily climbed the political ranks, serving in the New York State Assembly before winning the mayoralty.

His administration begins as the city rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, with crime rates falling, tourism reviving, and jobs returning, yet persistent concerns over rent hikes and inflation loom large. Mamdani also faces the challenge of navigating a tense relationship with former President Donald Trump, whose threats to withhold federal aid contrasted sharply with later conciliatory gestures.

Further, Mamdani must address skepticism from parts of the Jewish community over his critical stance on Israeli government policies, while reassuring business leaders by retaining key officials like Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

As Mamdani prepares for a public oath at City Hall administered by Senator Bernie Sanders, followed by a block party on the iconic Broadway “Canyon of Heroes,” the city watches closely. His tenure promises to test the limits of bold progressive governance in one of the world’s most demanding political arenas.