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Zohran Mamdani woos NY Desis in Hindi campaign video
In the video he draws on cultural references, including lines from iconic Bollywood films, to mobilize voters.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 05, Jun 2025
- 12:26 EDT
- 96
Zohran Mamdani / Screengrab from his campaign video / X (Zohran Mamdani)
Indian American New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani released a campaign video in Hindi, appealing to South Asian voters ahead of the city’s mayoral election.In the video, shared on X, Mamdani promises rent relief, free buses, universal childcare, and affordable groceries, while drawing on Bollywood references to underscore a populist message.
“Only 20 days are left in this election, and the choice is between me and Andrew Cuomo,” Mamdani says in the video, invoking a famous line from the film Deewar: “Today he has buildings, property, bank balance, bungalow, car. What do you have? You.”
Also Read: Zohran Mamdani secures NY mayoral ballot spot with 30K signatures
The Indian-Ugandan-American politician frames his campaign as a grassroots movement. “Because of you, we’ve raised $8 million and knocked on over 600,000 doors. We are this close to making this city’s first South Asian mayor,” he says. “But it’s not about what I will become — it’s about what I will do.”
Billionaires ke paas already sab kuchh hai. Ab, aapka time aageya.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 4, 2025
Billionaires already have everything. Now, your time has come. pic.twitter.com/bJcgxzt37S
Highlighting the cost-of-living crisis in New York City, Mamdani adds, “New Yorkers are struggling to afford food, clothing, and housing. I am fighting to change that.”
The video also educates voters on New York City’s ranked-choice voting system, urging them to list him as their first choice. “The more people you rank, the more power your ballot and voice have,” he says.
Mamdani also takes aim at former Governor Andrew Cuomo, alleging ties to Trump-linked donors. “His campaign is being run with money from Trump’s donors,” he claims. “If Cuomo wins, NYC will also belong to them — just like D.C.”
Ending on a populist note, Mamdani tells voters: “Billionaires already have everything. Now, it’s your turn.”
Mamdani, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, became a U.S. citizen after 2016 and is part of New York’s progressive political wing. He previously campaigned for Bernie Sanders in 2020 and is now positioning himself as a grassroots challenger in a race still shaped by powerful political figures.
The NYC mayoral election is set for later this month.
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