New Delhi/Guwahati
Nagaland came into existence in 1963 but had never had a woman MLA — until Thursday.
Hekani Jakhalu, a 47-year-old tribal lawyer and social entrepreneur who graduated from Delhi University and studied in San Francisco, has entered into the history books by becoming the first woman MLA in Nagaland.
Jakhalu defeated her nearest rival from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Azheto Zhimomi by 1536 votes in a close contest where fortunes swung either ways most of the time. Jakhalu polled around 45 percent of the votes while Zhimomi polled around 40 percent votes. She was one of the NDPP candidates for whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi had campaigned. Jakhalu also runs an NGO called YouthNet.
Jakhalu was one of the four women candidates in the fray of the total 183 trying their luck in the Assembly polls.
Retired Chief Engineer of the State Er Kahuli Sema of BJP, social worker Salhoutuonuo Kruse of NDPP and Rosy Thomson of Congress were the other women candidates.
Sema was engaged in a fierce contest in Atoizu (ST) with her rival, sitting MLA Er Picto and was comfortably ahead most of the time. Picto, however, surged ahead later on. The final result is awaited.
Kruse was cruising ahead of sitting MLA Keneizhakho Nakhro from the Western Angami-8 (ST) seat for most of the time. Nakhro, however, caught up with Kruse (49.74 percent) and trailed only marginally (49.69 percent) till results last came in. If Kruse manages to hold on to her slender lead, she could become the second woman MLA from the State.
The fourth women in the fray, Rosy Thomson of Congress, however, could not make a mark as she polled just 7 percent votes in Tenning, till results last came in.
In March, 2021, S Phangnon Konyak became the first tribal woman Rajya Sabha member from the State. She is the second Naga woman parliamentarian. It was way back in 1977 that Rano M Shaiza was elected to the Lok Sabha.
