Newly-elected Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, S Phangnon Konyak receiving her certificate of election from the Returning Officer, Khruohituonuo Rio in Kohima on March 24. (Photo: @MahilaMNagaland/Twitter)
Creates history as second woman ever from Nagaland to be elected to Parliament or State Assembly
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 24
Over 59 years since the Statehood, S Phangnon Konyak has become the second woman ever from Nagaland to be elected to either House of the Parliament or the State Assembly.
“S Phangnon Konyak sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been declared duly elected uncontested to fill the seat in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from Nagaland State, the term of which is due to expire on 2nd April, 2022, stated a press release from V Shashank Shekhar, Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland.
Phangnon was declared ‘duly elected uncontested’ by Returning Officer, Khruohituonuo Rio, Additional Secretary, Nagaland Legislative Assembly(NLA), after the last hour for withdrawal of candidature on March 24, it said. She was later handed over the certificate of election by the Returning Officer.
Woman legislator in Assembly, a specific priority, says Phangnon
Speaking with The Morung Express after the announcement, the newly elected MP stated that her immediate reaction was of ‘optimism,’ a feeling she had when she was first nominated by the BJP, propelling her to the national platform.
Queried on her priorities after the historic mandate, Phangnon stated that she has been bestowed a great opportunity and platform, and she would use the same responsibly to highlight many issues pertaining to the state.
Specifically on women empowerment, she added that an utmost priority would be to work towards putting a woman representative in the State Assembly. The NLA is yet to elect a woman representative.
Phangnon did her schooling from Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur and later completed Master of Arts in English from Daulat Ram College, under University of Delhi in 2002.
An activist as a student, after her masters, she was involved with a community-based organisation, before joining the BJP in 2017. Since 2020, she has been heading the Party’s State Mahila Morcha as the President.
With the official confirmation, Phangnon created history as the first woman to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland and the second Naga woman parliamentarian after Rano M Shaiza, who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while congratulating Phangnon wished her a successful tenure.
“I am confident that you will represent our state exceptionally well. I wish you the best for a successful tenure,” he tweeted.
Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor, IT, Science and Technology, NRE, Nagaland and a BJP National Spokesperson stated that he was “exceedingly pleased and delighted that BJP created history in Nagaland by proposing the first Women Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland!.”
“This is the most progressive step ever and will go a long way in ensuring that we send the most capable representative in the centre and ensure that there is a strong message to all the Nagas that we will promote quality over anything else irrespective of gender or tribe!,” he added, when reached out for his reaction.
