Indian-Americans are divided over Zohran Mamdani, the NYC mayoral candidate of Indian-origin, and Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-origin GOP leader who is a Guv candidate of Ohio. While Ramaswamy fell out of MAGA favor after his rant against American culture, Republicans have no love for Mamdani — but the Indian-American community feels there should be no comparison between Vivek Ramaswamy and Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani fans think Mamdani is what Vivek Ramaswamy could not become, while Ramaswamy fans think Mamdani has not achieved anything to be compared to Ramaswamy — one of the youngest billionaires in the US. Their only point of comparison is their Indian origin, though none of them was born in India. Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; Mamdani was born in Uganda.
‘Nothing can be more wrong’
Dr Lavanya Vemsani, author and professor, said some far left handles on social media are comparing Vivek Ramaswamy with Mamdani but nothing can be more wrong. “Vivek is a successful businessman and well liked Republican candidate running for the Governor of an important state, Ohio. Zohran is running as a mayor and doesn’t really have any career accomplishments to show other than a mediocre music gig and working for his mom. He is just having fun running and creating fake larger-than-life-projection of himself. This is just a self-fulfilling story for Zohran than anything purposeful for New Yorkers,” Dr Vemsani posted on X. “Zohran Mamdani ran a very clever campaign while Vivek Ramaswamy destroyed his career with a tweet,” one wrote. “Zohran Mamdani is what everyone thought Vivek Ramaswamy would be last year,” another wrote.
‘Be Zohran Mamdani, not a Vivek Ramaswamy’
One particular post fawning over Mamdani said: “Oh the Indian origin kids of America, when given a choice, be Zohran Mamdani. Not a Vivek Ramswamy.”Some people put them in the same bracket and said both of them should be deported. “We shouldn’t support either, but Mamdani is also a communist who explicitly identifies as anti-White. His religion and race are not the only factors to mention. Vivek is an anchor-baby – both he and Mamdani must be deported IMMEDIATELY,” one wrote.
Debate over who’s more American
Another simultaneous debate that took off on X was who is more American between Zohran Mamdani and Vivek Ramaswamy. People pointed out that though Vivek Ramaswamy has America First ideals, Mamdani seems more assimilated in American culture.