THE PEOPLE'S PRESS - Tanmay Swear In

Tanmay Shah Sworn in to Cleveland City Council

Tanmay Shah Sworn In as Cleveland’s First Indian-Born Councilmember, Pledges Working-Class Advocacy and Bold Reform

BY RUBY DARWISH | January 6, 2026

Tanmay Shah raises his fist toward supporters seated in the gallery during the Cleveland City Council swearing-in ceremony in the Cleveland City Hall chambers, Jan. 5, 2026. (Ruby Darwish)

CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council’s swearing-in ceremony held on Jan. 5th, 2026, was marked by one of its most anticipated moments as Tanmay Shah, among the youngest members ever elected to the body and the first Indian-born immigrant to serve on Council, formally took the oath of office.As Shah’s name was called, the chamber buzzed with anticipation. Following his remarks, City Hall erupted into fiery cheers, signaling the arrival of a councilmember whose campaign and politics galvanized working-class Clevelanders across the city.Representing the newly drawn Ward 12 — spanning Edgewater, West Boulevard, Jefferson, and parts of Cleveland’s Little Arabia — Shah framed his role as rooted in accountability, solidarity, and service. “I stand before you and ask you to hold me accountable,” Shah said. “I will make mistakes, and I hope we can learn together”.Grounded in his identity as a practicing Jain, Shah emphasized nonviolence, human dignity, and economic justice as guiding principles. “I’m committed to a path of non-violence and respect for every living being,” he said, linking his faith to his vision for governance and public life .Shah made clear that his vision for Cleveland centers the working class, a theme that defined his campaign and resonated throughout the chamber. “It was the efforts of hundreds of you who believed in a better Cleveland, a Cleveland that works for the working class,” he said, noting the campaign’s grassroots nature and the more than 10,000 doors knocked by volunteers .In a moment that drew cheers and chants, Shah referred to City Hall as “the people’s hall,” a phrase echoing the Cleveland Palestine advocacy movement that mobilized residents during 2023 and 2024 asking for a ceasefire resolution from the council. Shah himself was a visible presence during that period, frequently speaking during public comment and organizing alongside community members. In one such public comment, delivered during a City Council meeting as activists pushed for a ceasefire resolution, Shah criticized the city’s political leadership and corporate influence. “You should run to the people who work for you, like Jimmy Haslam and Dan Gilbert and the billionaires in this city,” Shah said at the time. “Ask them for more money, because we’re coming for you” “We must stand in solidarity with the working-class people, regardless of borders,” Shah said. “United, the people will never be defeated.”He closed with a message directed beyond the chamber, warning entrenched power structures that his tenure would challenge business-as-usual politics. “To the robber billionaires and their fascist, warmongering puppets… there is a storm coming,” Shah said, prompting another surge of applause and chants from supporters in attendance .As Cleveland’s new council term begins, Shah’s swearing-in made clear that his leadership will be defined by movement politics, working-class advocacy, and a commitment to making Cleveland — in his words — a city that truly works for its people.