Zohran Mamdani Wins New York City Mayoral Primary with Reported Support from Pakistani Marxist-Affiliated Group

In a stunning political development, Democrat Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the New York City mayoral primary, defeating former mayor Andrew Cuomo. According to a report by the New York Post, Mamdani’s success was bolstered by the support of a South Asian political group with ties to a Pakistani Marxist organization, which allegedly helped drive a surge in voter turnout across key boroughs.

The report claims that the activist network Desis Rising Up and Moving (drum) and its political arm, DRUM Beats, played a crucial role in mobilizing South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in Queens and Brooklyn. Together, they reportedly helped increase turnout by over 10% among these demographic groups.

The results of the New York City mayoral election are expected to be officially announced on November 4 (U.S. time).

South Asian Mobilization Tipped the Scales

Data cited by the New York Post revealed that voters of Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent saw turnout increases of 11% and 13% respectively, compared to the 2021 election cycle. In the decisive third round of ranked-choice voting, Mamdani – who was born in Uganda – defeated Cuomo by a margin of 573,169 to 443,212 votes.

DRUM reportedly claimed credit for mobilizing nearly 150,000 South Asian and Indo-Caribbean voters across New York City. The group’s extensive door-to-door campaigns, phone banking drives, and community outreach events were said to be instrumental in driving voter engagement in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.

Links to Pakistani Marxist Movement

The New York Post Investigation also uncovered that several DRUM organizers have apparent ties to the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP) – a Marxist political organization founded in Pakistan by veteran socialist Farooq Tariq and Cambridge-educated historian Ammar Ali Jan.

Individuals such as journalist and activist Raza Gillani, community organizer Mohiba Ahmed, and doctoral student Zahid Ali were all reportedly involved in DRUM’s U.S. operations and also appeared in HKP-related publications or events. A 2022 Facebook post by DRUM’s executive director Fahd Ahmed praising discussions with HKP leadership was described as “encouraging and impressive” by the Post.

Interestingly, campaign finance records show that DRUM Beats received nearly $20,000 in payments from Mamdani’s campaign during the primary period. Both DRUM and DRUM Beats reportedly share the same office address and leadership structure, raising questions about the overlap between nonprofit advocacy and electoral activities.

Blurring the Line Between Activism and Campaigning

According to the New York Post, this overlap may blur the legal distinction between permissible community organizing and direct campaign work. The publication suggested that the connection could prompt scrutiny from election watchdogs, though no official inquiry has yet been announced.

Despite the controversy, Mamdani’s campaign witnessed explosive growth on social media. His Instagram following reportedly jumped from around 213,000 to over 3 million between June 1 and July 1 – a staggering 1,295% increase. Similarly, his TikTok account saw growth of over 1,000% in the same period. A large portion of his engagement reportedly came from users based in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, with recurring comments such as “Let’s go bhai!” dominating his posts.

Digital Momentum Meets Ground Game

Analysts noted that Mamdani’s win was the result of a powerful combination of online virality and grassroots mobilization. The digital wave, amplified by South Asian community networks and transnational solidarity movements, appears to have helped him gain the edge over Cuomo in the final rounds of ranked-choice counting.

As New York City awaits the formal election results, political observers are watching closely to see whether the growing influence of ethnic-based and international activist groups signals a new phase in the city’s progressive politics.

Whether Mamdani’s success represents a grassroots triumph or a coordinated ideological campaign, one thing is clear – the South Asian political awakening in New York has arrived in full force.