In the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in the New York City mayoral race, significant questions are emerging regarding the complexities of his support network. At its foundation lies the Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) organization and its political arm, DRUM Beats. These entities are deeply intertwined with mobilizing forces on the South Asian political landscape, operating alongside links to groups with radical ideologies.
DRUM’s operations draw strength from connections to the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), a radical socialist organization from Pakistan. Founded by Ammar Ali Jan and Farooq Tariq, HKP aims to unify various societal segments under a socialist revolutionary agenda. Their approach coincides with the far-left framework shared by institutions like The People’s Forum and the Tricontinental Institute, which also orbit around funding from figures like Neville Roy Singham—whose ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have raised eyebrows.
Jan, a prominent figure within HKP, has been reported to engage directly with U.S. activists supporting Mamdani. With DRUM, Jan’s plans to establish a solidarity network for Pakistani activists reflect an organization willing to navigate borders to influence U.S. politics. Three key DRUM organizers—Raza Gillani, Mohiba Ahmed, and Zahid Ali—played crucial roles in this effort, demonstrating a concerted strategy to rally support for Mamdani, whose victory represents not just a local electoral shift but an emergent power dynamic involving foreign and domestic radical elements.
Fahd Ahmed, the executive director of DRUM, has openly praised the collaborative nature of this movement. He described his engagements with both U.S. and Pakistani activists as “encouraging and impressive,” showcasing a solidarity that transcends geographical boundaries. However, Kazi Fouzia, who leads the organization’s mobilizing efforts, admitted DRUM’s unabashed influence: “We’re like a gang,” revealing a robust, almost intimidating presence in the neighborhoods they serve.
The implications of this interwoven network extend beyond Mamdani’s campaign. DRUM collaborated with The People’s Forum, a group with a well-documented affiliation to hard-left activism. Funded by Singham to the tune of $20 million, The People’s Forum employs strategies closely aligned with CCP narratives, including denying human rights abuses in China. They work to amplify a pro-Beijing sentiment while dismantling American influence abroad, creating a relationship that draws in entities with potentially harmful intentions for U.S. interests.
Moreover, the ANSWER Coalition’s involvement—linked to the Workers World Party (WWP)—complicates matters further. The WWP’s past defenses of oppressive regimes and its commitment to revolutionary socialism spotlight the ideological undercurrents fueling not only Mamdani’s campaign but also broader protest movements across the nation. The coalition’s close ties to militant groups reflect a willingness to partner with organizations that pose significant national security concerns.
Investigations into these affiliations are gaining momentum. Lawmakers are probing whether The People’s Forum and its affiliates could be acting as unregistered foreign agents, a situation that raises alarms about compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The connections revealed suggest a systematic effort to sway local elections through foreign influence and domestic asymmetries in political power.
The presence of Islamist-aligned support networks adds another layer of complexity. Ties to groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) hint at a greater agenda intertwined with extremist sympathies. Connections among key activists with Hamas-linked organizations underline the precarious intersection of radical left movements and radical Islamist ideologies. The financial backing from the Unity and Justice Fund PAC, associated with CAIR, further illuminates the overlap of financial interests that bolster Mamdani’s candidacy.
Digital strategies also played a significant role in Mamdani’s campaign, with his social media following experiencing unprecedented growth almost overnight. The surge in engagement, largely traced back to regions like Pakistan and India, raises the specter of coordinated foreign manipulation aimed at swaying public opinion. Coupled with the campaign’s financial disclosures revealing foreign donations, this sheds light on the murky waters of campaign finance and the legality of foreign influence in U.S. elections.
In summary, the interplay of Pakistani Marxist activists, Islamist networks, and CCP-aligned organizations creates a geopolitical tapestry that reveals serious concerns over the integrity of democratic processes. Mamdani’s victory could signal a trend of growing foreign involvement in local elections, prompting urgent discussions on how these influences might reshape political landscapes and national security considerations in the future.
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