PDP leader Iltija Mufti says incoming J&K govt will be ‘toothless tiger’, CM a ‘rubber stamp’ | India News – Times of India

Iltija Mufti (ANI file photo)

NEW DELHI: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Saturday voiced strong criticism of the incoming government in UT of Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as “toothless tiger” and claiming its chief minister will be a “rubber stamp” and a “glorified mayor” of a “municipality.”
Her comments come ahead of the assembly election results, set to be announced on October 8, marking the first elections in J&K in a decade.
In a post on X, Iltija expressed concerns about the authority of the new government, saying, “With the LG ‘nominating’ five MLAs and the chief secretary changing transaction of business rules, it’s clear that the incoming government will be a toothless tiger.”
“How much more will the Government of India strip J&K of any semblance of authority and autonomy? Rubber stamp CM = Glorified mayor of a municipality (sic),” Iltija questioned.

Iltija, the daughter of PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti, contested the assembly elections from Bijbehara in Anantnag district.
The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, allows the lieutenant governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir to nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly to ensure women’s representation.
An amendment in July 2023 expanded this provision to include three additional members: two from the Kashmiri migrant community, including a woman, and one representing displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Iltija’s remarks followed National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah‘s claims that he received information from the secretariat regarding the LG administration’s actions.
Abdullah said, “The BJP has clearly accepted defeat in J&K. Why else would the chief secretary be assigned the duty to change transaction of business rules to curtail the powers of the chief minister/elected government and assign the same to the LG?”
He advised officials to resist any pressure that might disempower the incoming elected government. Union home minister Amit Shah dismissed Abdullah’s claims as “misleading and speculative,” asserting, “There is not even an iota of truth, as there is absolutely no such proposal.”
The three-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on October 1, with a voter turnout of 63.88 per cent. The results will be declared on October 8.