On November 4, 2025, New York City witnessed a seismic shift in its political landscape when 34-year-old Democratic Socialist state assembly member Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest in more than a century. This wasn’t merely an electoral upset – it was a testament to the power of grassroots organising, clear class-based messaging, and the ability to build multiracial, working-class coalitions in the face of entrenched political and economic power. Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as a third-party candidate after losing the Democratic primary in June, by about 9 points, with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailing far behind.Mamdani’s victory has profound implications not just for New York City but for progressive movements worldwide. More than 2 million voters cast their ballot in the 2025 election, the biggest turnout for a mayor’s race since 1969, suggesting that his message resonated deeply with a broad cross-section of New Yorkers. For India’s progressive forces struggling to dislodge the current reactionary Bharatiya Janata Party government and build an alternative political vision, Mamdani’s campaign offers valuable strategic lessons about movement-building, messaging, coalition formation, and the relationship between electoral politics and grassroots organising.From obscurity to City HallMamdani’s victory caps a meteoric rise through New York politics since he launched his campaign roughly one year ago, transforming him from a virtually unknown state assemblyman who barely registered in polling to the incoming leader of America’s largest city. Mamdani was relatively unknown before the primary election, polling as low as one percent in an Emerson College survey in February 2025. This trajectory alone offers a critical lesson: entrenched political power can be challenged and defeated when movements are built on genuine popular support rather than elite backing.Mamdani first defeated Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary, using ranked-choice voting to secure 56% of the vote, before going on to win the general election. The city’s traditional power brokers, including the real estate and business sectors concerned with Mamdani’s democratic socialist identity, banded together in support of Cuomo and donated millions of dollars to anti-Mamdani super Political Action Committees (PACs). Yet despite being dramatically outspent, Mamdanis grassroots campaign prevailed.Decisive factors in Mamdani’s victory1) A Clear, Class-Based Affordability AgendaThe cornerstone of Mamdani’s success was his unambiguous focus on material conditions affecting working-class New Yorkers. CBS News exit polls found cost of living was the top issue for voters, with three in four New York City voters saying the cost of housing was a major problem. Mamdani didn’t merely acknowledge these concerns – he built his entire campaign around addressing them.His platform included proposals to freeze the rent for New Yorkers living in rent-stabilised apartments, make public buses free to ride, and provide universal childcare by taxing the wealthy. These weren’t technocratic half-measures but bold, universal programs that spoke directly to people’s lived experiences. The Mamdani campaign came out with its three key policies—free child care, buses, and rent freezes—but developed other policy platforms through collaboration with policy experts and grassroots organisations.The clarity and simplicity of this message was crucial. Mamdani’s messaging came from countless conversations with voters. His unified message of affordability, universal programs, and solidarity wasn’t just popular—it was also digestible and easy to understand. In contrast to the often convoluted policy proposals of establishment politicians, Mamdani’s agenda was something voters could immediately grasp and relate to their daily struggles.2) Grassroots organising as the foundationPerhaps the most significant factor in Mamdani’s victory was the unprecedented grassroots organising operation that powered his campaign. The key to his campaign’s success was largely due to community organising across all of NYC’s diverse boroughs with a platform made by and for people of color and working class people.The NYC-DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) anchored Mamdani’s dynamic field operation, with approximately 6,600 active members in October 2024 that grew to 8,800 as the campaign gained steam, and quickly surpassed 10,000 after Mamdani’s primary victory. But the organising went far beyond one organisation. As the campaign launched, the grassroots organisations Jewish Voice for Peace, NY Communities for Change, CAAAV Voice, and DRUM Beats declared their support for Mamdani, forming an initial coalition of pro-Palestine activists, anti-poverty organisers, and East Asian tenants, along with South Asian and Indo-Caribbean city residents.This wasn’t just about volunteer numbers – it was about building genuine organisational capacity. Mamdani’s campaign is grassroots in its origins, its associations, its practice, and its theory of governance. The campaign understood organising as more than just voter contact; it was about building power from below and creating structures that would outlast the election itself.New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, center, speaks in front of the Unisphere alongside his transition team, from left, Elana Leopold, Melanie Hartzog, Maria Torres-Springer, Grace Bonilla, and Lina Khan, in the Queens borough of New York, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Photo: PTI3) Building a multiracial, working-class coalitionOne of Mamdani’s most remarkable achievements was building a genuinely diverse coalition that crossed racial, ethnic, and religious lines. NBC News exit polling found that Mamdani won across racial demographics – with white, Black, Latino, Asian and voters of other races all backing his candidacy. This wasn’t accidental but the result of intentional organising and messaging that emphasised shared class interests over identity-based appeals.Prior to his campaign launch, organizer Jagpreet Singh worked to introduce Mamdani to community leaders, attending events including the Durga Puja festival at a Nepali Hindu temple in Ridgewood, the large Diwali celebration in Richmond Hill’s Little Guyana, and the Sikh Day Parade in Manhattan. This deep community engagement, particularly with immigrant communities, was crucial to building trust and support.Mamdani’s campaign connected with younger voters, especially those under 30, 62% of whom voted for him. He also won the support of over half of voters between the ages of 30 and 44. This intergenerational appeal, combined with strong support across racial groups, demonstrated that class-based politics can be the foundation for broad coalitions.4) Strategic use of digital media and multilingual outreachMamdani’s campaign demonstrated sophisticated understanding of contemporary political communication. Working with Brooklyn-based digital agency Melted Solids, Mamdani created content that spoke directly to regular New Yorkers, using advertising as a vessel to hear their concerns.His multilingual approach was particularly effective. A Ugandan-born South Asian Muslim immigrant himself, Mamdani speaks both Hindi and Urdu – a fluency that allowed him to extend his reach to voters through social media videos that worked as conversation starters through Bollywood references recognisable to many South Asian diasporas of different ages. This wasn’t tokenistic multiculturalism but genuine engagement with diverse communities in their own languages and cultural idioms.5) Confronting elite opposition head-onRather than moderating his message in the face of elite opposition, Mamdani leaned into the conflict. In response to Cuomo’s well-funded media campaign backed by super PACs that spent a record-breaking $25 million characterising Mamdani as dangerous and inexperienced, this propaganda did not work, in part because of the strength of the grassroots efforts.Business leaders argued Mamdani would drive wealthy New Yorkers out and discourage businesses from operating in the nation’s financial capital. Their push ultimately helped Mamdani cast his campaign as a fight between working-class people and billionaires. By embracing this framing rather than running from it, Mamdani clarified the stakes and energized his base.A person holds a poster as Zohran Mamdani wins New York City Mayoral election, in New York, USA, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Photo: PTI.6) Small-dollar fundraising versus Big MoneyThe campaign’s funding model was itself a political statement. According to campaign finance filings, more than 70% of Mamdani’s total fundraising came from small donors, compared with Cuomo’s heavy reliance on max-out donors and traditional institutional networks. This wasn’t just about money – it was about building a broad base of invested supporters who felt ownership over the campaign.7) A social movement approach to governanceCritically, Mamdani didn’t just run as an outsider – he articulated a different theory of how government should work. As part of the Socialist in Office co-governance committee, Mamdani, together with other socialist state legislators and city council members, has taken a social movement approach to governing, building power through mobilising and empowering regular people to push for solutions at all levels of government.This approach was evident even in his state assembly work, where he helped constituents organise to solve municipal-level problems like requesting a traffic light at a busy intersection, even though he is a state-level legislator, because he treated constituent services as a way to build power and democratise local government.Also read: Seven Dimensions of Zohran Mamdani’s Win Hold Significance For IndiansLessons for India’s Progressive ForcesThe challenge of dislodging the Modi government and the BJP’s hegemonic grip on Indian politics is obviously different from winning a mayoral race in New York City. The scale, institutional context, and political culture differ significantly. However, several strategic lessons from Mamdani’s campaign are directly applicable to progressive forces in India.1) Material conditions must be centralOne of the most crucial lessons is the power of centring material economic conditions in political messaging. Like Mamdani’s focus on housing costs, transit, and childcare, India’s progressive forces must make the economic struggles of ordinary Indians – inflation, unemployment, agrarian distress, stagnant wages – the centrepiece of their political appeals.The Modi government has often succeeded by combining cultural nationalism with selective welfare schemes while avoiding accountability for broader economic failures. Progressive forces need to relentlessly focus public attention on these economic issues, not as abstract policy debates but as lived experiences of suffering and struggle. The farmers’ protests demonstrated the power of mobilisation around concrete economic demands – this energy needs to be channelled into sustained political organising.2) Build real grassroots infrastructureThe Indian opposition has often relied on traditional party structures, personality-driven campaigns, or loose coalitions of convenience. Mamdani’s victory demonstrates the necessity of building genuine grassroots infrastructure – organisations that exist beyond election cycles – that build leaders at the local level, and that connect electoral politics to everyday struggles.This means investing in long-term organizing, not just campaign mobilization. It means creating spaces where ordinary people develop political consciousness and leadership capacity. Organizations like trade unions, farmers’ unions, student groups, women’s collectives, and neighbourhood associations should be seen not just as interest groups to be courted but as the foundation of political power itself.The growth of the NYC-DSA from 6,600 to over 10,000 members during the campaign shows how electoral work can be a vehicle for movement building. Indian progressive forces need similar organisational vehicles that can grow through political engagement.3) Universal programmes, not identity politicsMamdani’s success with a multiracial coalition built around universal programmes offers a crucial alternative to identity-based politics. In India, where caste, religion, and regional identities have been weaponised to divide potential allies, a politics centred on universal economic programmes – quality public education, accessible healthcare, guaranteed employment, social security – can provide the basis for broader unity.This doesn’t mean ignoring caste or religious oppression, but rather addressing them within a framework that emphasises shared material interests. The specific oppression faced by Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and other marginalised communities must be named and confronted, but within a political vision that unites rather than fragments.4) Embrace clarity over moderationOne consistent pattern in Indian opposition politics has been the tendency to moderate positions in hopes of winning over the so-called “middle ground.” Mamdani”s campaign demonstrates the opposite approach – clear, bold positions that sharpen contradictions rather than blur them.The Congress party and other opposition forces have often tried to match the BJP’s nationalism or soft-pedal critique of corporate power to avoid being labeled “anti-development” or “anti-national.” Mamdani’s willingness to call out billionaires, defend socialist policies, and take principled stances even when controversial shows an alternative path. Voters respect clarity and conviction, even when they don’t fully agree.5) Small-dollar fundraising as political independenceThe dominance of corporate funding in Indian politics – including the controversial electoral bonds scheme – has compromised political independence. Mamdani’s reliance on small donors for over 70% of his fundraising demonstrates an alternative model that could be adapted in India through technology and grassroots organising.Small-dollar fundraising isn’t just about money – it’s about building a base of financially invested supporters who feel ownership. In India, where economic inequality is even more extreme than in the United States, finding ways to build financial support from ordinary people rather than depending on wealthy patrons could be transformative for progressive politics.6) Use technology for genuine engagementMamdani’s multilingual social media strategy offers important lessons for a linguistically diverse country like India. Rather than top-down broadcast messaging, his campaign used digital platforms for genuine cultural engagement – speaking to communities in their languages, using their cultural references, and creating content that felt authentic rather than packaged.In India, where social media has been weaponised for hate speech and misinformation, progressive forces need to develop their own sophisticated digital strategies that combine scale with authenticity. This means investing in content creation that respects linguistic and cultural diversity while maintaining ideological coherence.7) Electoral work must build lasting powerPerhaps the most important lesson is that electoral victories must be seen as part of longer-term movement building, not as ends in themselves. Immediately after Mamdani’s victory, allies launched a 501(c)(4) organization called ”Our Time for an Affordable NYC” to keep the movement active during his term, organizing at the neighborhood, city, and state level.Indian progressive forces have often treated elections as discrete events rather than as part of continuous organising. Even when progressive candidates win, the organisations that supported them often demobilise rather than using the victory as a platform for deeper organising. Building permanent structures that can hold elected officials accountable while organising for further gains is essential.Supporters for Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani react as they watch returns during an election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. Photo: AP/PTI8) The relationship between electoral and extra-electoral politicsMamdani’s approach, influenced by ideas of building ”popular power” through structured organisations that people can use to democratically control different parts of their lives – including unions, cooperatives, tenant groups, and debtors’ unions – offers a model for thinking about political power beyond just elections.In India, where powerful mass movements like the farmers’ protests, labor strikes, and student movements have demonstrated the capacity for extra-parliamentary politics, the challenge is connecting these movements to electoral politics without subordinating one to the other. The goal should be creating what some have called “proto-parties” – organisations that function politically but aren’t constrained by the limitations of formal party structures.9) Confront authoritarianism through alternative visionIn his victory speech, Mamdani positioned himself in direct opposition to Trump, stating “if we embrace this brave new course, rather than fleeing from it, we can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves”. This approach – confronting authoritarianism not just through opposition but by offering a compelling alternative – is crucial.In India, opposition to Modi cannot be purely negative. It must be accompanied by a positive vision of what Indian society could be –more equal, more democratic, more just. This requires confidence in progressive values and the willingness to articulate them clearly, even when unpopular in elite circles.10) Build leadership from within communitiesMamdani’s campaign worked through community organisations and leaders, attending countless community events and building relationships based on shared struggle rather than electoral opportunism. This approach of building leadership from within communities rather than parachuting in leaders at election time is essential in the Indian context.Every village, neighbourhood, and workplace should be seen as a site for developing political leaders who are organically connected to their communities. This requires patient work that doesn’t show immediate electoral returns but builds the foundation for sustainable political power.Challenges and LimitationsIt’s important to acknowledge the limitations of drawing direct parallels between New York City and India. The institutional contexts are vastly different: India’s first-past-the-post electoral system, the role of money in politics, media ownership patterns, the relationship between national and state politics, and the specific historical development of caste and communal politics create unique challenges.Moreover, labour organisers noted that during Mamdani’s term, “every Republican and corporate Democrat will do everything possible to ensure he fails, to discredit his socialist platform,” and any success “will be due to the strength of the movement that prevailed in the primary and continued to grow”. The same will be true for progressive forces in India – building electoral power is only the beginning, and governing progressively requires sustained movement support.Additionally, New York City, despite its inequalities, operates within a wealthy country with democratic institutions that, while flawed, provide certain protections. India faces challenges of scale, poverty, state capacity, and institutional weakness that make straightforward application of any foreign model problematic.Zohran Mamdani prepares before a mayoral debate, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York. Photo: AP/PTI.Zohran Mamdani’s victory represents more than one person winning office – it proved that even funding from super-elites is not enough to overcome sound ideas when combined with grassroots organising across diverse communities. This victory represents not the conclusion of a movement, but the beginning of one.For India’s progressive forces, the lessons are clear: build genuine grassroots organisations, centre material economic conditions, create multiracial working-class coalitions, embrace ideological clarity, develop financial independence through small-dollar fundraising, use technology for authentic engagement, and understand electoral politics as part of broader movement building.The challenge of dislodging the Modi government is immense. The BJP has built a formidable electoral machine, controls much of the media landscape, has successfully deployed divisive cultural nationalism, captured the entire institutional structure of the state and has the backing of significant corporate interests. But Mamdani’s victory against similarly long odds – defeating an establishment Democrat backed by millions in super PAC money in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the world – demonstrates that organised popular movements can overcome elite power when they build genuine grassroots infrastructure, articulate clear class politics, and maintain ideological conviction.As Mamdani stated in his victory speech, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him, and if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one”. This insight applies universally: authoritarian populism must be defeated not just electorally but by transforming the economic and social conditions that give rise to it.The real question isn’t whether progressive forces in India can learn from Mamdani’s campaign – it’s whether they will have the patience, discipline, and commitment to do the long-term organising work necessary to build the kind of movement that can win. The true test will be the ability to sustain momentum, strengthen the class struggle, and cultivate a form of power that cannot be diminished by any election cycle. In both New York and India, the future belongs not to those who simply win elections, but to those who build movements capable of transforming society itself.Anand Teltumbde is former CEO of PIL, professor of IIT Kharagpur, and GIM, Goa. He is also a writer and civil rights activist.The Unquiet Republic is his column on The Wire.