The nomination process for 24 seats of the first phase of Jammu Kashmir assembly elections has been completed. The last date for nomination for the first phase seats was 27 August. On the last day of nomination, Iltija Mufti, daughter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, also filed her nomination. Iltija is contesting from Bijbehara seat of Anantnag in South Kashmir. There are 90 assembly seats in Jammu Kashmir. PDP could have fielded Iltija from any seat, but why did the party field her from Bijbehara seat only?
1- Launching pad of Mufti family
When it comes to the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, two families are also mentioned – the Abdullah family and the Mufti family. For a long time, the politics of Jammu and Kashmir has mostly revolved around these two families, especially in the 21st century. The Bijbehara seat has been like a launching pad for the Mufti family.
When it comes to launching a new member of the family in electoral politics, the Mufti family chooses the assembly elections and the seat is Bijbehara. The third generation of the Mufti family is going to contest the elections in Jammu and Kashmir as Iltija. The electoral launch of the first two generations of the family also happened from this seat and now Iltija has also joined this list.
PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also entered electoral politics from Bijbehara seat. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who started his political journey from Democratic National Conference, contested from Bijbehara assembly seat in 1962 and won and reached Jammu Kashmir assembly. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was also MLA from this seat in 1967 on Congress ticket. Former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s electoral launch was also done from Bijbehara seat. Mehbooba contested assembly elections for the first time in 1996 from Bijbehara seat.
2- Mufti family stronghold
Bijbehara seat is one of those seats where the Mufti family rules. From Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to Mehbooba Mufti, all have won the assembly elections from this seat on the ticket of different parties. The support of the Mufti family is considered a guarantee of victory in Bijbehara. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed founded the PDP in the year 1999 and since then this seat is in the possession of the party. Be it National Conference, Congress or any other party, no party has been able to break this impenetrable fort of PDP.
3- Anti-incumbency in the family seat
Mohammad Abdul Rehman Wari was a four-time MLA from Bijbehara seat. There was also anti-incumbency in the area regarding Wari. Abdul Wari had won the 2014 elections but the margin was less than three thousand. In the 2014 Jammu Kashmir elections, PDP candidate Wari won by 2868 votes. In the 2008 assembly elections, Wari’s victory margin from this seat was 23 thousand 320 votes. The victory margin in the last assembly elections is also being considered a factor behind Iltija Mufti’s candidature.
Also read: ‘Our agenda is one, you should not field candidates in JK assembly elections…’, Omar Abdullah appeals to Mehbooba Mufti
4- Mufti card to strengthen political ground
In the last Lok Sabha elections i.e. 2019, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti contested from Anantnag seat. Mehbooba Mufti got 792 votes. The National Conference candidate also got 776 votes. After Mehbooba’s lead of 16 votes in Bijbehara, there were speculations that whenever the assembly elections are held, the PDP chief herself can contest. Mehbooba herself has not contested from Bijbehara, but to strengthen the political ground of PDP, the party has definitely played the Mufti card by fielding her daughter.
Also read: ‘We will not contest elections under any alliance that has…’, Mehbooba Mufti attacks NC-Congress
Voting is in the first phase in Bijbehara seat
Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections are being held in three phases. In the first phase, voting is to be held on 18 September for 24 seats of the Union Territory. Voting is also to be held in the first phase on Bijbehara seat. Voting will be held on 26 seats in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections and on 40 seats in the third phase on 1 October. The results of the assembly elections will be declared on 4 October. It is worth noting that these are the first elections after the reorganization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the abolition of special status. Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir earlier in 2014.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)