Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Mamdani Kicks Off NYC Transition After Win Marked by 'Dhoom Machale' and Viral Rajnigandha Clip

Viral cultural moments are shaping perceptions during his affordability-focused transition.

Overview

  • Zohran Mamdani, 34, won New York City’s mayoral race over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, becoming the city’s first Muslim and Indian‑origin mayor and its youngest leader in more than a century.
  • He ended his victory speech to the Bollywood hit Dhoom Machale, a choice that drew wide U.S. media reaction and praise from the song’s composer Pritam.
  • A street‑interview video by creator Nicolas Nuvan showing Mamdani sharing Rajnigandha silver pearls went viral, fueling lighthearted social buzz about his cultural roots.
  • On his first day as mayor‑elect, he met Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez for lunch in Jackson Heights, highlighting a focus on affordability and generational change as transition work begins.
  • Because he was born abroad and became a U.S. citizen in 2018, he is ineligible to run for president under the Constitution, and he is scheduled to be sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2026.