Belonging to a political family that started the People’s Democratic Party in 1999, Mehbooba Mufti has clocked a two-decade-long career in Kashmiri politics and knows the pulse of the state with ‘special autonomy’. Here are the facts behind her rise to prominence and power, to become the first woman CM of the state, and only the second Muslim woman CM, of our country.

She was born on May 22, 1959, in Anantnag district. After completing her degree in Law, she remained politically inactive initially but sprung into the world of politics after her husband started an independent political career. She started her political career in 1996 by joining Congress. She is one of the most recognised and successful women politicians in the country.

Known as 'Daddy's Girl' in Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti joined hands with her father, when he broke away from the Congress and helped in building support for the People's Democratic Party, found by her father. In just 3 years she turned PDP to the ruling party in the state.

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Last year she launched the path-breaking welfare scheme for girl children called 'Ladli Beti Scheme', wherein the focus was on providing education, skill training and self-support training to all females.

She has been instrumental in changing the political discourse of the state by challenging the dominant Abdullah's and also tackling threats from militants in a state reeling under separatist insurgency since the '80s.

During the peak of militancy in the state, Mehbooba is known to have struck the right chord with the families of the deceased by visiting them personally.