Exclusive: Iltija Mufti Set to Make Electoral Debut From Bijbihara South Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir: Iltija Mufti, the younger daughter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, is gearing up to enter the political arena as she prepares to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from her home constituency of Bijbihara in South Kashmir.

In an exclusive interview with News24, Iltija shared her excitement and emotional connection to the region, stating, "Bijbihara is my hometown, and I have a deep bond with the people here. I am hopeful for a win." She expressed confidence in her party's readiness for the elections, which have been long overdue for six years.

Addressing her mother's decision to refrain from contesting until statehood is restored, Iltija emphasizedy her respect for Mehbooba Mufti's stance. "Mehbooba Ji is a strong leader. Whatever she decides is like a line carved in stone. She has led the powerful assembly of the erstwhile state and does not wish to enter an assembly stripped of its major powers," Iltija remarked.

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Mehbooba Mufti began her electoral journey by winning the assembly elections from Bijbihara in 1996 at the age of 37 on a Congress ticket. She later made history as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

Raised single-handedly by her mother alongside her elder sister Irtiqa, Iltija has been vocal about political issues since the abrogation of Article 370. While Irtiqa has chosen to stay away from politics, Iltija has stepped into the spotlight, advocating for her mother during her imprisonment and actively campaigning for her mother in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

Now, as she seeks votes for herself, it would be interesting to see whether Iltija Mufti, 37 will be able to make her mark in J&K's political landscape, carrying forward a legacy of leadership and resilience from her grandfather and mother.

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