34-year-old Zohran Mamdani is the man of the moment in American politics. With his victory in New York City’s mayoral race, the charismatic Democratic Socialist becomes the first Muslim and the first Indian-origin mayor-elect of the US’ biggest city — both identities he proudly embraces. But how did Mamdani triumph in the age of Trump?

Mamdani ran a carefully thought-out campaign. Soon after Trump’s victory, as a New York Assemblyman, he went out on the streets asking people why they voted for Trump. He realised that the economy and affordability were the major issues for the city’s voters. In New York, one in four residents lives in poverty, while one in twenty-four is a millionaire — a sign of the sharp, Dickensian economic inequality in the city. Mamdani tapped into this discontent abo

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