Mehbooba Mufti Biography, Early Life, Career, Personal Life, and Latest Events
Mehbooba Mufti is an Indian politician from Jammu and Kashmir and the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She served as the Chief Minister of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir from April 4, 2016, to June 19, 2018, becoming the first woman to hold the office. She is the daughter of veteran politician Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who also served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Over a political career spanning three decades, Mehbooba Mufti has served in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha. She has also emerged as one of the most prominent political voices on issues involving Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, relations between India and Pakistan, civil liberties, security, and the political future of the region.
Her career has included periods of government and opposition, electoral victories and defeats, political alliances and disagreements, detention following the 2019 constitutional changes, and continued leadership of the PDP.
As of September 2026, Mufti remains active in politics as PDP president and continues to speak publicly on issues affecting Jammu and Kashmir. Her recent interventions have included calls concerning the region’s constitutional status, political prisoners, medical interns’ demands, religious and cultural issues, and relations between India and Pakistan.
Who Is Mehbooba Mufti?
Mehbooba Mufti was born on May 22, 1959, in Bijbehara in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. She comes from a politically prominent Kashmiri family. Her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, became one of the most influential politicians in Jammu and Kashmir and later served as the state’s Chief Minister.
Mufti studied law at the University of Kashmir, earning an LL.B. in 1982. Her legal education later became one of the foundations of her public career. Her 2024 election affidavit also records her LL.B. qualification from Kashmir University in 1982.
She entered electoral politics in the 1990s, initially through the Indian National Congress, before helping her father establish the PDP in 1999.
Her political identity subsequently became closely associated with the PDP’s regional politics and its emphasis on dialogue, political engagement and what the party describes as the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Early Life and Family Background
Mehbooba was born into a family with deep roots in South Kashmir.
Her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was born in Bijbehara in 1936 and became involved in politics during the 1950s. He later held important positions in both Jammu and Kashmir and national Indian politics, including serving as India’s Union Home Minister from 1989 to 1990.
The political environment surrounding her family exposed Mehbooba to public life from an early age.
Her father was already an established politician by the time she entered politics. However, Mehbooba’s eventual career developed into a political identity of its own.
Her rise also coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in modern Jammu and Kashmir, when militancy and political instability had profoundly affected everyday life in the region.
Education
Mehbooba Mufti studied law at the University of Kashmir.
Her 2024 election records identify her educational qualification as an LL.B. from Kashmir University in 1982.
Although she trained as a lawyer, politics eventually became her principal profession.
Her legal background has remained relevant to her public engagement with constitutional questions, civil rights and the political status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Entry Into Politics
Mehbooba Mufti entered mainstream electoral politics in 1996, when she joined the Congress along with her father.
The political circumstances were difficult. Jammu and Kashmir was experiencing a serious period of militancy, and mainstream electoral politics faced major challenges.
According to the Indian Express biography of her political career, Mehbooba’s first electoral contest came in 1996 when she contested the Bijbehara Assembly constituency. She won the seat, establishing herself as a politician in her own right.
Her early political career was closely connected to her father’s return to electoral politics.
In 1998, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate. The following year, father and daughter left Congress and helped establish a new regional political organization.
That organization became the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, commonly known as the PDP.
Founding of the PDP
The PDP was founded in 1999 by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.
Mehbooba became an important organizational figure within the new party and served as its president during several periods before eventually becoming its undisputed central leader after her father’s death.
The party sought to establish itself as an alternative to the long-dominant National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti’s political career consequently became inseparable from the growth of the PDP.
She served as PDP president from 1999 to 2005 and again from 2010 to 2016, according to the Indian Express biography.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Electoral Career
Mehbooba Mufti’s electoral career has included both state-level and national politics.
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
In 2002, she won election to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Bijbehara.
This was an important milestone because the PDP was still a relatively young political party.
The party subsequently became a major political force in the state.
Lok Sabha Career
Mehbooba Mufti entered the Indian Parliament after winning the 2004 Lok Sabha election from Anantnag.
She was subsequently re-elected in 2009.
She returned to Parliament in 2014, again winning from Anantnag. The Indian Express records her Lok Sabha service from 2014 until she became Chief Minister in 2016.
Her parliamentary career gave her a national platform from which she could discuss Kashmir-related political and constitutional issues.
Mehbooba Mufti and the 2014 PDP-BJP Alliance
The 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election produced a fragmented mandate.
The PDP emerged as the largest party, while the Bharatiya Janata Party made significant gains, particularly in the Jammu region.
The two parties subsequently formed a coalition government.
The alliance was politically significant because the PDP and BJP represented different political constituencies and had important differences over several questions concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed became Chief Minister in 2015.
After his death in January 2016, the government entered a period of uncertainty before Mehbooba Mufti eventually agreed to take over the leadership.
Mehbooba Mufti as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as Chief Minister on April 4, 2016.
She became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Her tenure lasted slightly more than two years.
The period was marked by significant political and security challenges, including continuing militancy, public protests and tensions between different political constituencies.
Her government also operated within the complicated framework of the PDP-BJP coalition.
The coalition itself eventually broke down.
End of Her Government
On June 19, 2018, the BJP withdrew support from the PDP-led government.
Without the BJP’s support, Mufti resigned as Chief Minister.
Contemporary reporting stated that the BJP cited deteriorating security conditions and other concerns in explaining its decision to withdraw from the coalition.
Her resignation ended the first and so far only period in which Mehbooba Mufti has served as Chief Minister.
She has remained a prominent opposition politician since leaving office.
Mehbooba Mufti After Leaving Office
After her government fell, Mufti’s political career entered a different phase.
In 2019, the constitutional and political structure of Jammu and Kashmir changed dramatically.
On August 5, 2019, the Government of India took steps that removed the special constitutional arrangements associated with Article 370 and reorganized the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Mehbooba Mufti strongly opposed the move.
Her position became one of the defining features of her political activity in the years that followed.
Detention After the 2019 Changes
Mehbooba Mufti was detained on August 5, 2019, along with numerous other political leaders.
Her detention continued for approximately 14 months.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration detained her under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after the initial period of detention. The detention was extended during 2020.
She was released on October 13, 2020, after the Jammu and Kashmir administration revoked the detention order.
The Indian Express reported that she had spent 14 months in detention.
Following her release, Mufti resumed political activity.
Mehbooba Mufti and the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration
After her release, Mufti became involved in a coalition of several Jammu and Kashmir political parties that opposed the changes made to the region’s constitutional status.
The grouping became known as the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, or PAGD.
The alliance brought together parties with different histories and political positions but shared concerns regarding the constitutional changes made in 2019.
Mufti served as vice-chairperson of the alliance from 2020 to 2024, according to the Indian Express profile.
The alliance became an important feature of opposition politics in Jammu and Kashmir during the period following the abrogation of Article 370.
Mehbooba Mufti’s 2024 Lok Sabha Election
In the 2024 Indian general election, Mehbooba Mufti contested the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency on the PDP ticket.
She did not win.
National Conference candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad won the constituency with 521,836 votes, while Mehbooba Mufti received 240,042 votes. The reported margin was 281,794 votes.
The result meant that Mufti did not return to the Lok Sabha.
It also illustrated the competitive relationship between the PDP and the National Conference, two major regional political forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to her 2024 election affidavit, Mufti was 64 at the time of filing and listed politics as her profession.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Political Positions
Mehbooba Mufti’s political positions have often centered on Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status and the relationship between the region and the Indian Union.
She has consistently opposed the 2019 changes concerning Article 370 and Article 35A.
In August 2026, she reiterated that the PDP would continue to advocate for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and for the release of political prisoners.
She has also spoken in favor of dialogue between India and Pakistan.
In May 2026, she supported comments by RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale calling for communication channels between India and Pakistan to remain open.
These positions form part of her broader political argument that political dialogue is necessary for addressing the Kashmir issue.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Views on Kashmir’s Political Future
Mufti’s political career has been strongly connected with the question of Kashmir’s political identity.
Before 2019, she participated in the political system created by India’s Constitution and the former Jammu and Kashmir Constitution.
After the 2019 changes, however, she became one of the most prominent political opponents of the new constitutional arrangement.
Her position has remained that the region’s former constitutional status should be restored.
The PDP reiterated this position in 2026, with Mufti saying the party would continue its political campaign around Articles 370 and 35A.
This remains one of the most significant areas of disagreement between the PDP and other political parties in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Personal Life
Mehbooba Mufti has two daughters, Iltija Mufti and Irtiqa Mufti.
Her husband is Javed Iqbal Shah. Public profiles identify the couple as having lived separately, and reports have described their marriage as estranged.
Mufti has generally kept her private family life less prominent than her political career.
However, her daughters have occasionally attracted public attention because of their own professional and political activities.
Iltija Mufti
Iltija Mufti has become involved in public affairs and has frequently spoken on political issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
She has also worked closely with her mother.
In 2026, Iltija’s social-media presence became a subject of public discussion after her X account was withheld in India following a legal request.
In August 2026, Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija were also named in an FIR following a PDP protest related to Article 370. The allegation concerned an encounter with a police officer. The filing was reported by officials and should not be treated as a finding of guilt.
Irtiqa Mufti
Mehbooba’s younger daughter is Irtiqa Mufti, who has largely remained outside frontline politics.
A 2020 report noted that Irtiqa had sought to use the name Mehbooba Syed for her mother in her passport documentation and described the family as having two daughters.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Relationship With Her Father
The relationship between Mehbooba Mufti and her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was central to her political development.
They worked together in Congress during the 1990s and subsequently founded the PDP.
Her father was the party’s principal political strategist in its early years, while Mehbooba became its most recognizable grassroots campaigner.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed died on January 7, 2016, while serving as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba succeeded him as Chief Minister several months later.
His death therefore became both a personal loss and a major turning point in her political career.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Relationship With the PDP
The PDP has been the central political organization of Mehbooba Mufti’s career.
She helped create the party in 1999 and has led it through several major political transformations.
The party entered government with the National Conference in the early 2000s, later formed a coalition with the BJP after the 2014 election, and subsequently moved into opposition following the collapse of that government.
After 2019, the PDP became one of the parties opposing the constitutional changes made by the central government.
As of September 2026, Mufti remains PDP president.
Latest Events Involving Mehbooba Mufti in 2026
Mehbooba Mufti remains politically active in September 2026.
Several recent events have placed her back in the news.
September 2026 Gurez Retreat Controversy
One of the most recent controversies involved a proposed event called “Tantra in Silence” in Gurez Valley.
On September 19, 2026, Mufti called for intervention over the proposed retreat, arguing that authorities should examine the event and its suitability for the area. The Indian Express reported that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti also raised concerns about the proposed programme.
The Jammu and Kashmir government subsequently stated that no permission had been sought or granted for the proposed event by the relevant tourism authorities or district administration.
The incident illustrates Mufti’s continuing involvement in public debates concerning religion, culture and tourism in the Kashmir Valley.
Medical Interns’ Stipend Issue
Earlier in September, Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in a dispute involving MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir.
She called for the concerns of young doctors to be addressed and urged the government to resolve the dispute over stipends.
The episode showed her continuing role as an opposition political leader engaging with public policy issues beyond constitutional questions.
Article 370 and August 2026 Protest
In August 2026, Mufti participated in PDP activity marking the seventh anniversary of the 2019 changes to Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional arrangements.
She reiterated the PDP’s position that the party would continue advocating for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and the release of political prisoners.
An incident during a PDP protest also generated controversy after Mufti was seen holding an inverted Indian national flag. NDTV reported that the flag was held upside down during the demonstration.
The incident drew attention because the protest itself was connected to the PDP’s opposition to the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s former special constitutional status.
July 2026 Pellet-Gun Remarks
Another major controversy occurred in July 2026 after remarks Mufti made at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi concerning the use of pellet guns in Kashmir.
Following criticism, she said she regretted the remarks and apologized, explaining that her statement had been incomplete and that a different meaning had been derived from it.
The episode generated criticism from political opponents, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Because the controversy involved competing interpretations of her comments, the documented sequence is that Mufti later expressed regret and apologized for remarks that had generated backlash.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Political Legacy
Mehbooba Mufti’s political legacy is closely tied to the changing political history of Jammu and Kashmir.
She was the first woman to become Chief Minister of the former state.
She built her political career through the PDP, a party she helped establish with her father.
She became Chief Minister through a coalition with the BJP and later resigned when that coalition collapsed.
She was subsequently detained following the 2019 constitutional changes and emerged as one of the most prominent political opponents of the new arrangement.
Her political record therefore spans several distinct periods:
- Entry into electoral politics in 1996.
- Founding of the PDP in 1999.
- Legislative Assembly service.
- Lok Sabha representation.
- Leadership of the PDP.
- Chief Ministership from 2016 to 2018.
- Detention following the 2019 constitutional changes.
- Opposition politics after her release.
- Continued advocacy concerning Article 370.
- Ongoing PDP leadership in 2026.
Her career also reflects the broader evolution of electoral politics in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mehbooba Mufti
1. Who is Mehbooba Mufti?
Mehbooba Mufti is an Indian politician and president of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party. She served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from April 2016 to June 2018.
2. When was Mehbooba Mufti born?
Mehbooba Mufti was born on May 22, 1959, in Bijbehara, in present-day Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
3. How old is Mehbooba Mufti?
She is 67 years old as of September 2026.
4. Who was Mehbooba Mufti’s father?
Her father was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a prominent Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and as India’s Union Home Minister.
5. What did Mehbooba Mufti study?
She studied law at the University of Kashmir and obtained an LL.B. in 1982.
6. When did Mehbooba Mufti become Chief Minister?
She became Chief Minister on April 4, 2016. She was the first woman to hold the position in Jammu and Kashmir.
7. Why did Mehbooba Mufti resign as Chief Minister?
She resigned on June 19, 2018, after the BJP withdrew its support from the coalition government led by her PDP.
8. How long was Mehbooba Mufti detained?
She was detained beginning August 5, 2019, following the constitutional changes concerning Jammu and Kashmir, and was released in October 2020. The detention lasted approximately 14 months.
9. Does Mehbooba Mufti have children?
Yes. She has two daughters, Iltija Mufti and Irtiqa Mufti.
10. Is Mehbooba Mufti still in politics?
Yes. As of September 2026, she remains president of the PDP and continues to participate actively in political debates concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
11. Did Mehbooba Mufti win the 2024 Lok Sabha election?
No. She contested the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency in 2024 but lost to National Conference candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad. Ahmad received 521,836 votes compared with Mufti’s 240,042.
12. What is Mehbooba Mufti doing in 2026?
She remains active as PDP president and continues to speak on Jammu and Kashmir’s political and social issues. In September 2026, she was involved in public discussions about a proposed retreat in Gurez and earlier urged the government to address medical interns’ stipend concerns.
Final Thoughts
Mehbooba Mufti’s biography is inseparable from the political history of modern Jammu and Kashmir.
Born into the family of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she entered electoral politics during one of the most difficult periods in the region’s recent history. She helped establish the PDP, became a legislator and parliamentarian, and eventually made history as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Her two-year tenure ended when the BJP withdrew from the coalition government in 2018. The political environment changed dramatically the following year with the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s former special constitutional arrangements.
Mufti’s subsequent detention, release and return to active politics placed her at the center of debates about Article 370, political rights and the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
Her 2024 defeat in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha election did not end her political career. As of September 2026, she remains PDP president and continues to make public interventions on political, social, religious and constitutional questions in the region.
Whatever the future direction of Jammu and Kashmir politics, Mehbooba Mufti remains an important figure for understanding the region’s political developments from the 1990s through the present day.