Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, is set to make her electoral debut in the upcoming assembly polls, representing the Bijbehara constituency. Her candidacy was announced as part of a list of eight candidates released by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.
The Bijbehara constituency holds special significance for the Mufti family, as it was also the starting point of Mehbooba Mufti’s political career in 1996. Known as a stronghold of the Mufti family, Bijbehara has been a pivotal area in the region’s political landscape.
Iltija Mufti, 37, has gained prominence over the past few years, particularly during the period when her mother was detained following the revocation of Article 370. Her role became increasingly visible during the communication blackout and lockdown imposed in August 2019, when she wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah questioning the grounds for her mother’s detention. Iltija was later granted permission to visit her mother, and her involvement in media interactions and political meetings grew thereafter.
In June 2022, Iltija launched a fortnightly video series on X (formerly Twitter) titled “Aapki Baat Iltija Ke Saath” (Conversations with Iltija), aimed at discussing issues and decisions affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
A political science graduate from Delhi University and a master’s degree holder in international relations from Warwick University in the UK, Iltija Mufti is making her foray into electoral politics with a focus on South Kashmir. Her mother, Mehbooba Mufti, will not be contesting the assembly polls, making Iltija the PDP’s prominent candidate in the region.
The PDP’s candidate list also includes senior leader Abdul Rehman Veeri contesting from Anantnag East, and Mehbooba Mufti’s uncle, Sartaj Ahmad Madani, from Devsar. Former Lok Sabha MP Mehboob Beg will be running from Anantnag, while Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura is set to contest from Charar-i-Sharief and Ghulam Mohiuddin Wani from Watchi. Additionally, the party has fielded Waheed Para, a youth leader who previously contested the Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar, from Anantnag. Rafiq Ahmad Naik has been nominated from Tral.
As the election season heats up, Iltija Mufti’s candidacy marks a significant moment in the PDP’s campaign and underscores the ongoing influence of the Mufti family in Jammu and Kashmir’s political arena.
Sources By Agencies
