AN INDIAN “WORKING MOM” IN HOLLYWOOD

Whatever the impact in the rest of the two-billion-plus Muslim world, the war in Iran appears to have affected American politics, which the Trump administration did not anticipate.

Said Arikat, a Washington-based journalist, writes on Al Jazeera that Democratic Party primaries in New York signal the emergence of “a new force in US politics” of social democrats, called ‘progressive’, along with Muslim and Arab American candidates. “They are challenging old limits on debate over Israel and Palestine.”

He calls it “a watershed” in American politics, but stresses that its future remains uncertain.

The key man behind the change is New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Three candidates he supported have won the Democratic Party primaries. The Uganda-born Indian-American, whose mother is the famous filmmaker Meira Nair, shocked everyone by becoming the Mayor of America’s largest city.

In November, will Los Angeles, the second-largest, follow by electing another Indian American, a Tamil from Kerala, Nithya Raman?

There are many similarities. Both are social democrats. Which means the Democratic Party doesn’t really love them. Among the big Democrats, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who also has African-Indian roots, has endorsed incumbent mayor Karen Bass. A new slate of candidates is testing the Democratic Party’s political direction in other populous American cities as well.

And the Republicans, including President Donald Trump, see red. Vice President D J Vance has alleged that the process was ‘stolen’ in favour of Nithya.

Not being American-born, neither can aspire to the American presidency, but short of that office, there is so much to be done.

Both Zohran and Nithya speak for the underdogs in their respective cities, famous for being home to the rich and powerful. Both talk of civic issues to make their cities somewhat affordable for the working class.

In Nithya’s case, also add glamour, since Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood, which sells cinema to the world.

On June 9, she advanced to the next stage of the race for mayor of Los Angeles in one of the country’s most closely watched municipal elections.

Like a slow-and-steady tortoise, she overcame a 4,000-vote deficit and advanced to third position. When the postal votes were being counted, her rivals were busy celebrating.

She shocked Hollywood, overtaking Spencer Pratt, the star of The Hill, a popular 2023 American biographical sports drama film about baseball player Rickey Hill.

To be sure, Los Angeles, in California, is the land of the sea and sunshine, and Silicon Valley. It is also politically formidable, having elected Ronald Reagan, the star, as its governor. That eventually paved the way for his becoming the President of the United States.

Who is Nithya Raman? Chennai-born, she moved to the US at six with her parents. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political theory (Social Studies) from Harvard University, then a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT and became a naturalised American citizen at 22.

Now 44, she is married to television screenwriter Vali Chandrasekaran, a fellow Harvard alumnus. The two have twins, a son and a daughter. She practices Hinduism and regularly participates in interfaith events.

Interestingly, after living in the United States for many years, Raman returned to India and founded the research firm Transparent Chennai. The firm’s goal was to improve sanitation in the city of Chennai. In 2013, she moved back to the US and worked for the city administrative officer of Los Angeles.

Her strong point is urban planning and affordable housing advocacy, focusing on homelessness and housing affordability — issues that continue to dominate political debates across most American cities.

Like Mamdani, she stresses improving public transportation and addressing homelessness. She has argued that the city must increase housing supply while investing in social services and infrastructure to address long-standing challenges facing residents.

Her campaign highlights her experience in working on housing policy and local government initiatives. Critics, however, have questioned whether progressive approaches to homelessness and public safety have produced sufficient results in a city grappling with rising costs and persistent quality-of-life concerns.

The mayoral race is unfolding against a backdrop of growing frustration in Los Angeles. “People in this city are frustrated with the conditions on our streets, and they can feel an absence of leadership here,” she said. “They can feel that the city is not working, and they are sick of it.”

Nithya does not/cannot ignore Hollywood. She pushed back on criticism of her commitment to the entertainment industry, citing both personal ties and policy proposals aimed at retaining production in Los Angeles.

“I would absolutely be the strongest, loudest advocate for this industry that it needs, and that it needs from the mayor’s seat,” she said.

Criticised for rescuing herself from four of seven votes on motions in the city council to streamline film production in Hollywood, Raman explained that she did that to avoid a potential conflict of interest, as her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, works in the film industry. He is known for writing Rock (2006), Modern Family (2009), and My Name Is Earl (2005).

Nithya describes herself as a “working mom” whose experiences navigating Los Angeles helped shape her decision to enter public life.

Will Los Angeles get the care of this “working mom”? Will Nithya join the ranks of Kamala, Pramila Jayapal, Nikki Haley and other women of Indian origin, not to mention Usha Chilukuri, the vice president’s better half?