From January 1, 2026, the nightmare will begin for Mamdani, as President Trump as well as US law will make it difficult to implement several of the numerous promises he made in order to get elected.
In Frame: Zohran Mamdani (Image: BBC)
If any lesson is to be drawn from the rout of Republican candidates in the New York mayoral election, the West Virginia Lt Governor election and the two Governor races in New Jersey and Virginia, it is that an endorsement by President Trump has become the kiss of political death for the politician concerned. Andrew Cuomo lost rather than gained votes from the last minute verbal endorsement by President Trump when voting was about to commence in New York. Had he actually wanted Cuomo to win, he would have pulled Republican candidate Sliwa out of the race both the candidate and President Trump knew he was certain to lose. Indeed, Sliwa said as much before voting began, that if Mamdani won, it would be because he (Sliwa) was still in the race. Sliwa from the start had been a reluctant candidate, but President Trump, as was customary for him, brooked no opposition to his decision to field a Republican candidate, not even from the candidate himself.
While the results of other races were welcome news, there are more than a few Democrats who are uneasy at the victory of Zohran Mamdani. They are aware that Trump and several other Republicans will use him as a poster boy for the Democratic Party, an assertion far from true. But truth or falsehood have become irrelevant in US politics of the present, where all that counts is winning. From January 1, 2026, the nightmare will begin for Mamdani, as President Trump as well as US law will make it difficult to implement several of the numerous promises he made in order to get elected. Forget about funds for new programs, even funding for existing programs will become difficult and often impossible to fulfil.
For those New Yorkers who are homeless and penniless, of whom there is a growing number in New York, Mamdani offered hope for a better life, and they secured his vote. Of course, the NYC mayor will blame President Trump, but those who voted for Mamdani because of desperation where their circumstances were concerned will remain desperate. From the start of the new year, travel in the New York subway system will become even more dangerous than it already is. Many of those desperate to get some money for another shot of narcotics to dull their pain and hopelessness will turn to threats and even murder. A demoralised NYPD may not be able to counter such a surge in violent crime.
Small wonder that affluent communities such as several Indian Americans and Jewish Americans have begun planning for a change in their city of work and residence during the mayoral term of Mamdani. Several such elites provide jobs for other New Yorkers, and with them will migrate such jobs to other cities. New York has long had a reputation for being a cosmopolitan, inclusive metropolis where all are welcome. That will end during the term of Mamdani, some for good, others temporarily. Islamophobes will use Mamdani as a poster boy for the Muslim community, a very unfair characterisation of a diverse and achievement-oriented community.
Mamdani has from long before the Mayoral campaign made false allegations against India, including that genocide is occurring of the Muslim community in the country. Given the fact that the community has grown steadily in number when the Hindu population in Pakistan has been shrinking to almost zero, using the language supplied by the ISI does not bode well for the security of India. Nor indeed for New York. The Consulate of India in New York and the Permanent Representative and his or her office in that city will need to be even more watchful of attempted violence against them. Judging by the rhetoric used by Mamdani, it is likely that among the first visitors to New York during the term of Mamdani would be the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his puppeteer Asim Munir. Should Netanyahu visit New York, the best he can expect is a profusion of protests, and the worst an attempt on his life.
Mamdani has for the past six years been the protege of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), no friend of Israel and in particular Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. While three Indian Muslim candidates have won—Mamdani, Aftab Purewal and Ghazala Hashmi—only Mamdani is a radical among them. Had a Purewal or a Hashmi been elected Mayor of New York rather than Zohran Mamdani, the city would not experience the steep fall in its performance standards that it will almost certainly go through with Mayor Mamdani. Cincinnati or West Virginia bears no comparison to New York in terms of size and worldwide recognition, more is the pity. Residents of New York are in for a bumpy ride during the term of Mamdani, and his Victory Rally speech gives no indication of a mellowing of his stance. Indeed, he kept repeating “Brothers”, not once adding any reference to the fair sex. However, later on, Mamdani appointed an all-women transition team.
House Representative Alexandra Occasion-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders joined in the small group during the closing speech of Mamdani. Neither are representative of the immense majority of Democrats, and neither is Mamdani, but in a country where divisive rhetoric thrives, few will point this out. New Yorkers, fasten seatbelts, for there are storms ahead.
