Nithya Raman, who left Thiruvananthapuram for the US at age six, defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3 election to become the 44th mayor of Los Angeles.
Raman's paternal relatives in Thiruvananthapuram expressed immense pride in her historic victory, recalling her early childhood and strong family roots in the state.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan congratulated Raman, noting that she is the first South Asian American to hold the post and an inspiration to global Malayalis.