Celebrating Mehbooba Mufti's 65th Birthday: A Look at Her Political Journey

A Milestone Birthday for Mehbooba Mufti

Today, May 22, marks the 65th birthday of Mehbooba Mufti, the first female Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Renowned as one of the most influential politicians in the region, she rose to prominence during her alliance with the BJP. Serving as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2018, her government faced challenges that ultimately led to its downfall in 2018. Coming from a political lineage, let's explore some intriguing aspects of her life on this special occasion.

Early Life and Education

Mehbooba Mufti was born on May 22, 1959, in Anantnag district, Kashmir. Her father, Mohammad Mufti Sayeed, served as the Union Home Minister during a critical period in 1989 when a plane was hijacked by terrorists. Among the passengers was Mehbooba's sister, Rubaiya. She completed her LLB degree from the University of Kashmir, establishing a solid educational foundation.

Political Career

Following in her father's footsteps, Mehbooba Mufti continued his political legacy. She began her career with the Congress party, winning the Bijbehara assembly seat in 1996. In 1999, she contested for a parliamentary seat from Srinagar but faced defeat against Omar Abdullah. After her marriage, she founded the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In 2002, she won a Rajya Sabha seat from Pahalgam and secured victories in the Anantnag constituency during the 2004 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Her alliance with the BJP in 2016 led to her becoming Chief Minister, but the coalition collapsed in 2018, resulting in the fall of her government.