Hekani Jakhalu of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) made history by becoming the first woman to be elected to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly.
- Ms. Jakhalu was announced the winner from the Dimapur-III constituency in the 2023 Nagaland Assembly elections.
- Representing the ruling NDPP, she defeated sitting MLA Azheto Zhimomi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) by 1,536 votes to win the Dimapur-III constituency.
- The NDPP’s second woman candidate, Salhoutuonuo Kruse defeated Keneizhakho Nakhro, an independent candidate, by only seven votes to bag the Western Angami seat.
- Most political parties in the Christian-majority Nagaland have been averse to fielding women in the Assembly polls, explaining why it has not had a woman MLA since attaining statehood in 1963.
- The State has had two women MPs though. Rano M. Shaiza of the United Democratic Party was the first elected parliamentarian. She won the State’s lone Lok Sabha seat in 1977.
- In 2022, the BJP’s S. Phangnon Konyak was elected to the Rajya Sabha to become the State’s second parliamentarian.
