Iltija Mufti, Daughter Of Mehbooba Mufti, Loses First Election Bid In Jammu And Kashmir

Her electoral debut has ended in defeat for Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti. She was contesting from Bijbehara constituency in South Kashmir as results started coming on October 8 for the ongoing assembly elections.

I accept the verdict…

Iltija, who posted on X, reflected on her journey and graciously accepted the election results by saying, “I accept the verdict of the people. The love & affection I received from everyone in Bijbehara will always stay with me. Gratitude to my PDP workers who worked so hard throughout this campaign.”

Iltija emerged in 2019 when the detention of her mother had just followed the abrogation of Article 370. Unlike then, Mehbooba Mufti did not contest the elections, and at 37 years old, she remained the face of the PDP in South Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti, too, had started her political career from this very same Bijbehara constituency in 1996, which is well-known for being a stronghold of the Mufti family.

Iltija Mufti to Remember Her Grandfather

While waiting for the results of her first election, Iltija paid a rich tribute to her grandfather Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in this emotional X post where she remembered a treasured memory: “‘Sunny yahan ayain photo ke liye’. In 2015 when you insisted we take a picture in front of the Taj I hesitated. I am glad you kept at it because that was going to be one of our last photographic memories.”. You personified wisdom, grace, magnanimity & dignity. Whatever I know whatever I am is all because of you. I wish you were here today. The best grandfather there will ever be. We miss you.”

Road to Iltija Mufti’s Electoral Entry

In August 2019, when Kashmir was under a communication blackout, Iltija wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah disputing her detention in her Srinagar home. Only then was she allowed to leave the Valley. But exercising caution, she sought and obtained permission from the Supreme Court to visit her mother.

After Mehbooba Mufti was released, she accompanied Iltija to various public engagement programmes. In June 2022, she launched a video series, “Aapki Baat Iltija Ke Saath,” on X, in which issues concerning the people of Jammu and Kashmir are discussed.

A graduate in political science from Delhi University and also a master’s degree holder in international relations from Warwick University, UK, Iltija is famous for her fierce opposition to New Delhi’s policies on Kashmir and also fights for civil liberties and political rights. She keeps her personal life very private, while dedication to her career as a politician is very much visible.

Speaking at an AajTak event in Kashmir, Iltija talked about her personality, saying, “I did not only inherit my mother’s looks but her stubbornness as well. I am strategic, she is emotional. This is my personality and I hope people discover this as time passes.”

Elections to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly were conducted on September 18, 25, and October 1.