56-year-old Mehbooba becomes first woman CM of sensitive border state of J&K

04 April, Jammu

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who took oath over as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir today at Raj Bhawan here, had plunged into mainstream politics of the state in 1996 by joining Congress, along with her father late Muft Mohammad Sayeed.

Ever since she joined politics ,Mehbooba gained popularity, especially among the women folk and also played crucial role in state’s politics under the guidance of her father. The 56 year old Law graduate is the mother of two daughters.She had won her first Assembly election as a Congress candidate from Bijbehara home segment.

She also played a key role in her father, late chief minister Mufti Sayeed’s victory, as Congress candidate in Lok Sabha elections of 1998, when he defeated National Conference’s Mohammad Yousuf Taing from South Kashmir.

However, the father-daughter duo in 1999 floated PDP as regional party, taking some like-minded leaders along, who were disgruntled with the National Conference, as well as Congress.In 2002 Assembly polls, PDP bagged 16 seats, while Ms Mufti contested Parliamentary Polls from South Kashmir and won her first Lok Sabha elections two years later.

Previously, she had contested Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar in 1999, but was defeated by Omar Abdullah.In 2008 Assembly elections, she contested and won from Wachi segment of Shopian district in south Kashmir, when PDP’s tally swelled to 21 but despite that they preferred to stay in the opposition.

PDP, however, emerged as the single largest party in 2014 Assembly elections, bagging 28 seats, paving way for her father to become Chief Minister for the second time.In March 2015, PDP-BJP formed the government, headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.