
New York, January 1, 2025: Zohran Mamdani has taken the oath as the new mayor of New York City at a historic ceremony at a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. The Indian-origin Democrat was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said.
The 34-year-old Democrat’s swearing-in ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, at the old City Hall station, one of the city’s original subway stops that is known for its stunning arched ceilings.
He will be sworn in again, in grander style, in a public ceremony at City Hall at 1 pm (local time) by US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor’s political heroes. That will be followed by what the new administration is billing as a public block party on a stretch of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes”, famous for its ticker-tape parades.
Mamdani now begins one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics as one of the country’s most-watched politicians.