Indian-Origin Zohran Mamdani Sworn In As New York’s First Muslim Mayor | India News

New York: Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated as mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, marking the occasion with an unusual swearing-in ceremony at a long-closed subway station in Manhattan.

The 34-year-old Democrat made history as the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city by placing his hand on the Quran as he was sworn in at the old City Hall subway station, one of New York’s oldest subway stops known for its ornate arches and historical significance. The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally, and Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, held a Quran.

Describing the moment as extremely meaningful, Mamdani said it was “the honor and privilege of a lifetime.” In his first speech as mayor, he described the location as a symbol of the city’s dependence on public transportation and its role in shaping New York’s vitality and identity.

During the brief ceremony, Mamdani announced Mike Flynn as the city’s new Department of Transportation commissioner before thanking those present and leaving the station.

According to NDTV reports, Mamdani is scheduled to be re-sworn in during a larger public ceremony at City Hall, which will be officiated by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, whom the mayor has often cited as a political inspiration. The event will be followed by a public block party along Broadway’s famous “Canyon of Heroes,” traditionally known for ticker tape parades.

Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991, to filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, the new mayor is also New York’s first leader of South Asian descent and the first person born in Africa. His family moved to the city when he was seven years old, and he later became a US citizen in 2018. Mamdani entered politics after working on Democratic campaigns and won a State House seat in Queens in 2020.

His mayoral campaign focused on affordability and easing the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. His proposals include free childcare, free buses, a rent freeze affecting nearly a million households and a pilot program for grocery stores in the city.

In the coming days, Mamdani and Duwaji will move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilized apartment to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan as they step into one of the most challenging roles in American politics.

Mamdani takes office as New York continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with crime rates falling, tourism rebounding and unemployment returning to pre-pandemic levels. Still, high prices and rising rents continue to cause concern. He will also have to navigate a tense political relationship with Republican President Donald Trump, who has previously threatened to withhold federal funds from the city.