Social workers from Nagaland have finally etched their names in the history of times by becoming the first women ever to get elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State. Both of them participated in the elections as candidates of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Out of the 183 candidates that stood for elections, only four were women.

US-educated lawyer Jakhalu defeated Azheto Zhimomi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) by 1,536 votes in the Dimapur III seat. Kruse won from the Western Angami seat in the Kohima district. She defeated Keneizhakho Nakhro, an independent candidate by only seven votes.

Kruse wants to bring changes in the constituency. She asserts that there is utter need of the presence of women in decision-making bodies.

Jakhalu credits her victory to her team and her constituency. She is grateful to the people for believing in her. She has been into social service for more than a decade. She has worked with youth and has been successful in mobilising about social change. She regards that her priority would be for youth and women empowerment which she regards has been in a state of negligence over a period of years. She is also ready to extend her support to the marginalised groups of the State as they also constitute a significant part of the population of Nagaland. She has promised to work with all honesty and integrity. A lawyer by education and social entrepreneur by profession, she is the founder of the YouthNet Nagaland. She regards it as some divine providence that she got elected despite the thin margin. She had served as the President of the Influential Angami Women Organisation and also as the Executive of the Angami Public Organisation, an apex body for tribal welfare in the State.

Women have always tried in past to seek out a chance of representation for themselves. But the political parties barred them for exercising that line of control. Nagaland attained statehood way back in 1963 but women's representation was null so far. Back in 1977, Rano M Shazia of the United Progressive Alliance created history by becoming it's first woman MP. She had defeated the then Chief Minister Hokishe Sema of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.

Democracy in India actually gives everybody both the right to elect and to get elected. It neither distinguishes anybody on the basis of gender. It's transparent and clear as any competition should be. The managers of the household should now be given the managerial responsibility of the State.

.    .    .

Reference:

• ndtv.com
• indiatimes.com