Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday congratulated Keralam-born Nithya Raman on her victory in the Los Angeles mayoral election, calling it an inspiration to the people of the state.
In a post on X, Satheesan described the win as historic, noting that Raman would become the 44th mayor of Los Angeles and the first South Asian American to hold the office.
“A Daughter of Keralam Shines at Los Angeles City Hall,” the CM said.
“Born in Keralam, Raman has made her mark in urban planning and public service far from home, and has now written her name into history. Her journey is a tremendous inspiration to the global Malayali community,” he added.
Wishing her success, he said, “May she serve the city and its people with distinction. Sending the love of Keralam and wishing her every success.”
Raman, 45, a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing District 4, defeated incumbent Karen Bass, 73, in the November 3 election. Bass conceded on Thursday.
With her victory, the two largest US cities, New York and Los Angeles, will have mayors of South Asian descent. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office in January 2026, is also a Democratic Socialist.
An urban planner by training, Raman earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a graduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
She is among several Indian-American candidates who won in the 2026 US midterm elections, in which the Democrats made significant gains and secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Indian American Impact said her victory reflected the growing political representation of South Asian Americans in California, home to more than one million people of South Asian origin.
(PTI News)
