H is cosmopolitan eliteness and the particularities of the American political context notwithstanding, Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for New York City mayor can offer valuable insights for Opposition politics in India. Mr. Mamdani refused to disparage right-wing voters as irrational bigots. He responded to Donald Trump’s 2024 victory by listening to Trump supporters with empathy, asking them about their core grievances. This honestly acknowledged some reasons why working-class people voted for Mr. Trump. Mr. Mamdani then developed a cogent, concrete economic programme addressing these grievances.

An economic agenda

The bedrock of Mr. Mamdani’s agenda remains economic. He repeatedly returned to issues of rent, free and fast buses, and universal childcare. On this foundation, he built a natio

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