Aasha Khosa/New Delhi

This is the story of two Muslim women who are trying their luck in the Assembly elections in South Kashmir which along with adjoining areas of Jammu goes to the polls on September 18 in the first phase. Both are seeking votes in the name of legacy but have joined the male-dominated political arena under different and contrasting circumstances.

The women are Iltija Mufti, PDP candidate from Bijbehara, who is seeking votes as daughter and granddaughter of two former Chief Ministers –Mehbooba Mufti and Mufti Mohammad Saeed,  and Sakina Itoo, National Conference leader contesting from Damhal Hanjipora, whose presence on the scene is a challenge to the forces behind the assassination of her father, Wali Mohammad Itoo, 29 years ago.

Iltija – who was in school in Delhi and later went abroad for higher studies– is a debutant who is all over the Indian media, television channels, podcasts, and magazines. A highly articulate woman with a gift of the gab, Iltija’s campaign centered around the developmental work and approach introduced by Mehbooba Mufti and Mufti Mohammad Saeed in Kashmir.

In her late thirties, Iltija Mufti started as a media advisor to her mother’s party - the PDP a few years ago. She became active after the August 5, 2019 decision of the Modi government to whittle down Article 370 of the Constitution.

💚 pic.twitter.com/hzxmU6qXOx

— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) September 15, 2024

Her grandfather Saeed was India’s first and the only Muslim Home Minister. Iltija however, speaks of the ‘zulm and lynching of Muslims’ in India in her media interviews but her campaigning was strictly local. Her posters bear the images of her mother and grandfather.

While campaigning she behaves and speaks as a charming woman as is evident from one of her posts on X:

During the course of my campaign I’ve met countless women whose sons & husbands have been languishing in jails since years. Because they are booked under draconian laws like UAPA & PSA bail is incredibly difficult. pic.twitter.com/0oBgIGyIDy

— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) September 11, 2024

It’s interesting that when there is an undercurrent of anti-dynasty politics flowing in J&K, Iltija Mufti is seeking votes in the name of her family.

Though one doesn’t know the exact bond between Iltija and her political activist father, Javed  Iqbal Shah the latter has been speaking against the perpetuation of dynastic politics in J&K on social media. Iltija’s parents got divorced when she was a toddler. Also, she uses her mother’s surname and has been brought up by her.

Sakina Itoo, 52, is the daughter of Wali Mohammad Itoo, former speaker of the J&K Assembly who is strictly following the developmental agenda in her campaigning.

She joined politics under tragic circumstances and won her maiden election in 1996. She contested elections from her father’s seat after quitting her MBBS course in Bhopal midway.

She described the tragedy that befell her family comprising a mother and five daughters and why she took to politics in an emotional post on X:

Sharing what I had to go through; exact 27 years ago. pic.twitter.com/ALtsW3EkSp

— Sakina Itoo (@sakinaitoo) March 18, 2021

Sakina said she gave up her MBBS course to stand up to the killers of her father. She remembers how her father’s funeral procession was fired upon and so many attempts on her life.

Sakina Itoo became the de facto head of her family the day she donned the mantle of her father and took care of the family. She remains single to date.

She won elections twice and lost once; she even served as a minister in the Farooq Abdullah cabinet. Her presence on the political scene is a testimony to the resillience and determination of Kashmiri women to stand upto dark forces that created mayhem in their land.

Led a public meeting at Sailkhanen & Kutmarg area of DH PORA, receiving an enthusiastic welcome! Emphasized the power of unity and collective thoughts for a brighter future, and the people pledged their unwavering support to JKNC for a resounding victory, Insha'Allah! pic.twitter.com/Se3XyoVT6j

— Sakina Itoo (@sakinaitoo) September 8, 2024

Her campaign centered around developmental issues, the need to create jobs a,nd youth-centric promises. As against the overprojection of Iltija Mufti, Sakina Itoo continued a low profile and yet local campaign.

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Though Kashmir has had several emancipated women leaders in the past it’s not easy for Iltija or Sakina Itoo to wade the dangerous and challenging course of politics in a place that has seen disturbances, and violence.