Iltija Mufti among the members of political families who will face the first electoral test in J&K | Latest News from India

Iltija Mufti now faces her first electoral test, along with over half a dozen members of political families contesting the region's first parliamentary elections in a decade. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated her as the candidate of her family's Bijbehara district against Bashir Ahmad Veeri of the National Conference (NC).

Iltija Mufti, her mother's adviser and the head of Bijbehara, has filed her candidature for the constituency, which goes to polls on September 18. The Muftis have represented the constituency since the 1960s. Mehbooba Mufti won her parliamentary election from Bijbehara in 1996. Her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a former Union minister and two-time chief minister, was first elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly from Bijbehara in 1967.

Iltija Mufti expressed hope that the voters of Bijbehara would support her the way they had supported her grandfather and mother. She said she was here to represent Bijbehara and resolve the problems of the place.

Yawar Shafi Banday, 38, who has a degree in business administration from Scotland, hopes to represent Shopian in the assembly, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and two-time MP Mohammad Shafi Banda. He said he went from village to village to win votes for himself and the PDP. “When most of the leaders left the party, [PDP] For whatever reason, I decided to stick with it and bought the ticket for Shopian.”

Mohammad Rafeeq Naik, the PDP candidate from Tral, also comes from a political family. His father, Ali Mohammad, is a former minister. “Our constituency has been ignored. I am here to represent my people and highlight their concerns in the assembly,” said Naik, a former government employee.

Fifty-six-year-old Irshad Kar, the former son of state Congress chief Ghulam Rasool Kar, was named as the North Carolina candidate for Sopore five years after he joined the Farooq Abdullah-led party.

Mian Mehar Ali, the son of MP Mian Altaf Ahmad, is contesting for Kangan as a candidate for North Carolina for the first time. Ali's father, grandfather and great-grandfather have represented Kangan for decades. “I am not new to politics. Our family has been involved in politics for generations. Although I have worked for the people of my area, I now have an additional responsibility. This is my first election and I will lead it like a fighter because no contest is easy,” said 35-year-old Ali.

Salman Sagar, 40, son of NC leader and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, is contesting his first election after his tenure as Srinagar mayor. His father is also contesting an election from Srinagar.

NC has named Ahsan Pardesi, son of former MP Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, as its candidate for the prestigious Lal Chowk constituency in Srinagar.

Tanvir Sadiq, son of former MP Sadiq Ali, is also contesting his first parliamentary election. He has served twice as a city councillor, is known to enjoy the support of young people and has close ties to the party's old guard.

59-year-old Sajjad Shafi, whose father Mohammad Shafi is a former minister and MP, is the NC candidate from Uri. Sajjad Shafi is a doctor and started politics ten years ago. He faces a tough fight against former minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din. Sajjad Shafi said the NC has faith in him. “I will overpower my opponents with the support of my people.”

Hilal Akbar Lone is also contesting for the first time in Sonawari. His father Akbar Lone was previously a representative of this constituency. Hilal Akbar Lone is a lawyer and has been politically active for over a decade. “This time the fight is very tough as many representatives want to help the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.