Zohran Mamdani made history on Thursday by becoming the first Muslim, Indian-origin, and African-born person inaugurated as the Mayor of New York City. His swearing-in ceremony took place on the steps of the historic New York City Hall on the afternoon of January 1, 2026. Arriving in a yellow cab alongside his wife, Rama Duwaji, the democratic socialist, who won the Mayoral election in November, began his new chapter as mayor.
Before taking the oath, Mamdani addressed the crowd, saying, “My fellow New Yorkers, today begins a new era. I stand before you, moved by the privilege of taking this sacred oath. Humbled by the faith that you have placed in me.”
The oath of office was administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a fellow democratic socialist, who expressed gratitude to the people of New York City for electing Mamdani amid a challenging time in the nation characterized by hatred and divisiveness. Senator Sanders stated, “Thank you for electing Zohran Mamdani as your mayor.”
Earlier in the ceremony, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez welcomed attendees, emphasizing the significance of Mamdani’s leadership.
Mamdani officially became the 112th mayor of New York City immediately after midnight in a private ceremony, swearing in at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall, a choice made to honor the city’s essential workers. His transition team noted that the station, not often accessible to the public, reflects his commitment to those who keep New York running.
In his campaign, Mamdani focused on affordability, promising transformative changes to lower the cost of living in what is known as one of the world’s priciest cities. His platform includes initiatives for free childcare, free public transportation, a rent freeze affecting approximately 1 million households, and a pilot for city-run grocery stores.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/zohran-mamdani-sworn-in-as-mayor-of-new-york-at-city-hall-10450603/
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Publish Date: 2026-01-02 01:29:00
