Our Mamdani?

In a diverse and cosmopolitan city, a common man armed only with an ambitious, people-centric vision, can still rise. He can defeat billionaires, entrenched oligarchs, the status quo and even a hostile Trump administration. The conscious voter does not look at his religion, his immigrant background or the fact that his own party’s establishment barely supports him. They look at his program. They weigh his sincerity. They feel his appeal. And so he is crowned mayor of one of the most iconic cities in the world.

But then comes the uncomfortable question: Could a man with Zohran Mamdani’s credentials and background ever dare to contest an election here? Could he win an electoral battle against any wealthy, influential figure backed by ruling cliques? The bitter answer is a big ‘No’. Not only can he not win – he cannot even think of stepping into the ring. The very thought is unthinkable in our milieu. Until we create a political culture where a Mamdani can stand and win, we will remain trapped, ruled by the same handful, rotating among themselves, while the nation drifts.

Qamer Soomro

Shikarpur