PDP released its first list of candidates for the Assembly poll on Monday, according to which former CM Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti will contest from south Kashmir’s Bijbehara Assembly seat.
As reported last week that Iltija was likely to contest from south Kashmir. A list released by party’s general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura named eight candidates as constituencies in-charge. Lone told that these eight persons would also contest from these seats.
Iltija (35), who is also the media adviser to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, came to the spotlight during the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, when she openly talked against the abrogation and handled her mother’s social media accounts.
During the Lok Sabha poll, Iltija extensively campaigned for her mother, who unsuccessfully contested from the Anantnag LS seat. Jammu-based political analyst Zaffar Choudhary said Iltija taking a lead role was nothing surprising. “She made herself known as a vocal and articulate youth leader during the Lok Sabha elections. Her personally standing for the Assembly election will be a significant factor,” he said.
PDP insiders also said that with the PDP chief unlikely to contest the Assembly poll, the party will project Iltija as its face. The other candidates announced today include Abdul Rehman Veeri, Sartaj Ahmad Madani, Dr Mehbooba Beg, G N Lone Hanjura, Waheed Para, Ghulam Mohiuddin Wani and Rafiq Ahmad Wani.
Veeri is a senior PDP leader and a former minister. He will contest from the Anantnag east seat. Madani, the uncle of Mehbooba Mufti, is a former lawmaker and has served as Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. He will contest from the Devsar Assembly seat.
Dr Mehbooba Beg is a former Lok Sabha MP and will be contesting from Anantnag. Hanjura is the general secretary of the party and will contest from Chari Shareef in central Kashmir. Waheed Para is a prominent PDP youth leader and will contest from his hometown of Pulwama in south Kashmir. Watchi and Tral candidates will be Ghulam Mohiuddin Wani and Rafiq Ahmad Wani, respectively.
