Watch | Mamdani quotes India’s first PM in his victory speech: ‘A moment comes but rarely in history…’

Zohran Mamdani, the winner of the New York mayoral elections, quoted India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his victory speech on Wednesday.

“Standing before you, I’m reminded of Jawahar Lal Nehru’s words. 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," Mamdani said, addressing his supporters in New York.

VIDEO | USA: Addressing his supporters after winning New York city mayoral elections, Indian-origin democratic socialist lawmaker, Zohran Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani), quotes former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru in his victory speech.

He says, “Standing before you, I’m… pic.twitter.com/gydR3zPsql

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 5, 2025

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Decision Desk HQ shows that Mamdani won 50.2 per cent of the votes and received 782,403 votes, while his contender Cuomo won 41.5 per cent and got 646,951 of votes. Mamdani will succeed Mayor Eric Adams, who had cast his vote for Cuomo.

Mamdani will likely pave the way to a new era of politics in New York as a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. Trump has always been sceptical of Mamdani and his left-leaning ideas, expressing concerns over socialist policies warping his hometown.

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Mamdani has pledged sweeping social reforms, including rent freezes, fare-free public buses, universal childcare, and city-owned grocery stores designed to lower living costs.

His campaign has drawn significant attention and support — including a call from former President Barack Obama, who reportedly told Mamdani that his “campaign has been impressive to watch.”

With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on January 1, 2026.

Mamdani’s grassroots campaign centred on affordability, and his charisma spoiled Cuomo’s attempted political comeback. The former governor, who resigned four years ago following allegations of sexual harassment that he continues to deny, was dogged by his past throughout the race and was criticised for running a negative campaign.