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Who is Kerala's Arya Rajendran, drawing attention after viral Zohran Mamdani post?
Zohran Mamdani, 33, on Wednesday defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as well as the Democratic establishment – much of which had lined up against him – to win the party's primary for mayor of New York City. But why has his victory put the spotlight on Arya Rajendran, a politician from Kerala? read more
Kerala's Arya Rajendran in 2020, at age 21, made history by becoming the youngest mayor anywhere in the world.
`On Wednesday Zohran Mamdani pulled out a stunning victory in New York City's Democratic primary election.
Mamdani, 33, defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as well as the Democratic establishment – much of which had lined up against him – to win the party's primary for mayor.
`'In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it's done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City,' Mamdani wrote on a social media post on Wednesday.
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If elected, he would be New York's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor.
However, Mamdani's victory has put the spotlight on one of his old posts about a politician from Kerala – Arya Rajendran.
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As Zohran Mamdani's socialist agenda wins in NYC, MAGA attacks him for his religion
But who is Rajendran? Why is she in the spotlight?
Let's take a closer look:
Who is Rajendran?
Rajendran, who hails from Kerala's Nair community, is a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Rajendran, who was born in 1999, had created history by becoming the youngest mayor anywhere in the world in 2020.
She became Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram at age 21.
In doing so, Rajendran had broken the record of Devendra Fadnavis, who became mayor of Nagpur at age 27.
She won her seat from the Mudavanmukal ward in the 2020 polls.
A maths student, she was an office-bearer of the Students Federation of India (SFI).
She also served as the CPI(M) state president.
Her mother and brothers are also CPI(M) members.
Her interest in politics began exceedingly early.
She joined the CPI(M) children's collective in Baalasangham at age 5.
Rajendran cited Kerala's former health minister KK Shailaja as an inspiration for her work during Covid-19.
Rajendran in 2024 was elected to the CPI(M)'s Thiruvananthapuram District Committee.
A photo of Rajendran in 2023 working in her office with her one-month old baby went viral on social media.
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She is married to CPI(M) MLA Sachin Dev.
Why is she in the spotlight?
Critics of Mamdani are now highlighting his old post praising Rajendran.
Mamdani had retweeted a post from the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Puducherry committee congratulating Rajendran for her achievement.
Mamdani went even further, writing 'them: so what kind of mayor does nyc need right now? me:'
Zohran Mamdani has has shaken the New York City establishment to its core. Reuters
People are now dredging up to the old post to claim that Mamdani – a self-avowed socialist and progressive – is actually a communist.
US President Donald Trump was among those that had slammed Mamdani on Wednesday.
'It's finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor. We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous,' Trump wrote.
'He's not very smart, he's got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him," Trump added. 'With our future Communist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani…our Country is really screwed.'
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A number of right-wing influencers also launched scathing attacks on Mamdani, targeting among other things his religion.
With inputs from agencies
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