Hekani Jakhalu made history as Nagaland’s first woman MLA

Amaravati: 60 years after Nagaland got statehood, a new chapter has been created by lawyer and social activist Hekani Jakhalu (48). For the first time, a woman MLA will contest in the Nagaland Assembly. Out of the total 183 candidates who contested the election, there are four women. She contested as an NDPP candidate and won from the Dimapur seat with a lead of 1,536 votes against Lok Janshakti Party’s Ajito Jimomini. Salhoutuno Cruso, another woman candidate of NDPP is also in power for West Angami seat.. Nagaland got full statehood in 1963. Since then, 13 legislative elections have been held in the northeastern state. But so far there is no record of a single woman winning as an MLA and entering the assembly. There are 13.17 lakh voters in the state, almost half of which are 6.56 lakh women voters. So far only 20 women have contested and lost in the entire assembly elections held there. The chances of BJP coming to power with NDPP are clear.