Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday lauded Indian-origin American Zohran Mamdani for securing the Democratic nomination for the upcoming New York mayoral elections, urging his party to emulate Mamdani’s campaign strategies in India.
In a post on X, Singh highlighted the need for fearless, issue-based campaigning to combat injustice.
“Mamdani’s urban campaign approach is a model for Congress. Do we have the courage to replicate it? Are we ready to speak out against injustice? As Rahul Gandhi has said, ‘Congress workers, fear not.’ Our symbol, the hand, embodies fearlessness. Fight injustice boldly, and victory will follow. Jai Siya Ram,” Singh wrote in Hindi.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist born in Uganda to Indian parents and raised in the US, made history as the first South Asian man and third Muslim elected to the New York State Assembly.
His primary campaign, which defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, centered on progressive policies like rent freezes, universal childcare, free public transport, and tax reforms targeting the affluent. Progressive leaders praised his grassroots-driven victory, with Cuomo acknowledging Mamdani’s robust campaign in his concession speech.
Mamdani’s win positions him as a frontrunner to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. However, his success drew polarizing remarks from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and actor Kangana Ranaut.
In a post on X, Ranaut questioned Mamdani’s cultural and religious identity, referencing his mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, and father, author Mehmood Mamdani, both of Indian descent. “Mira Nair, a Padmashri recipient and celebrated daughter of Bharat, married Mehmood, a Gujarati-origin author. Their son, Zohran, sounds more Pakistani than Indian. What happened to his Hindu identity or lineage? Now he’s poised to erase Hinduism,” Ranaut wrote, adding, “I met Mira ji a few times—congratulations to the parents.”
Singh’s endorsement underscores Mamdani’s campaign as an inspiration for Congress to adopt bold, people-centric strategies, signaling a call for the party to intensify its fight against injustice as elections loom across India.