New Delhi, June 30 -- The 33-year-old Uganda-born son of immigrants, Zohran Mamdani, defeated 67-year-old Andrew Cuomo, three-term governor of New York state, in the city's mayoral primary poll for a Democratic party candidate. Mamdani's thumping victory has sent shockwaves in the party and exposed a divide between moderates and progressives.

Cuomo has name recognition. He represents a powerful political dynasty, is a well-funded establishment figure and was backed by national heavyweights and endorsed by labour unions. Mamdani is a relatively unknown democrat socialist with a left-wing vision for the city, focused on issues of affordability, fairness and redistribution.

If elected, he would be New York City's first Indian-American mayo...