Dimapur, March 15: The most recent Nagaland legislative elections will be remembered as the turning point in a generation of girls’ hopes and aspirations. Nagaland has been a state for 60 years, but there have never been female lawmakers. With the election of not one, but two women to the legislative assembly last week, this situation changed.
After victories in Dimapur-III and Western Angami, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party’s Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse are given seats in the 60-member State Assembly.
There were only four women running for 60 seats among the 184 candidates, thus Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuono Kruse had a difficult road ahead of them.
The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which designated 33% of seats for women in local governments, did not take effect in Nagaland until 2022, making it the only state in the nation to do so.
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The BJP-NDPP government was only recently able to truly advance women’s status in society by not only enforcing the amendment in the state but also electing Nagaland’s first female leader, S Phangnon Konyak, to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket.
The BJP, which won the majority of seats in Tripura and seems poised to keep control of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nagaland, praised the northeast development and peace programme on Thursday.
People in the area, according to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, have seen for the first time how closely and sincerely the Center has worked to bring peace and development to the region, whether it be through large-scale projects like building highways or by giving them access to necessities like electricity, free rations, and clean water.
“It’s a victory for my team and my constituency. I am grateful to the people for putting their faith in me,” Ms. Jakhalu said. “People wanted change. I hope to live up to their expectations”.
“The people have helped me cross the first hurdle of getting into the Assembly. I hope to honour their choice to the best of my capacity,” this was what Kruse came up with.
This victory brings in a newfound hope for Nagaland. This is not just the victory of Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse but the entire woman population of the state. This win will encourage more women to participate in politics and help to cultivate a more balanced and representative government.
The victory of Hekani Jakhalu Kense and Salhoutuonuo Kruse in this election may provide more hope and courage for the women of Nagaland to believe that they can even lead their state.
