Mumbai BJP chief invokes ‘vote jihad’ after Zohran Mamdani’s New York mayoral victory

Mamdani, the son of renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan-Indian scholar Mahmood Mamdani, defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after a scandal-marred tenure, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

His win, hailed as a triumph of progressive politics, centers on promises such as free childcare, a rent freeze, and free public buses- policies that appeal to working-class voters.

But while many celebrate Mamdani’s rise as a breakthrough for representation and social reform, his victory has also sparked sharp reactions among right-wing circles abroad.

Critics have framed it as an outcome of so-called “identity politics”, a sentiment that now appears to echo in Mumbai’s political discourse.

On Tuesday, Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam, who is also the MLA from Andheri West, made a striking social media post referring to Mamdani’s victory.

“We will not allow any Khan to become mayor,” Satam wrote, calling the emerging political trend a form of ‘vote jihad.’

He alleged that certain groups were attempting to replicate in Mumbai the kind of “appeasement politics” seen in New York.

When asked to clarify by the media, Satam said, “Some people are adopting the path of appeasement to maintain political power. It is necessary to protect Mumbai from such forces that have previously tried to divide society.”

The BJP leader added that while he supports religious harmony, “if anyone tries to divide society by adopting an anti-national stance, we will oppose them.”

The remarks come at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—India’s richest civic body—is gearing up for elections. The city’s politics has long revolved around debates over “locals versus outsiders,” a theme historically championed by parties like the Shiv Sena and MNS.

Satam’s comments suggest that the BJP may adopt a similar narrative this time.

“We will always stand for the development and unity of Mumbai. Vande Mataram programmes are being held across the city, and every citizen has the right to say this with pride,” he said. “Any attempt to change the social or cultural identity of Mumbai will not be acceptable.”

As Mamdani’s progressive win reshapes conversations about identity and inclusivity in one of the world’s largest cities, its political reverberations are already being felt 12,000 kilometers away —in another metropolis wrestling with its own questions of belonging and identity.