S Phangnon will also be the second Naga woman parliamentarian. Since Nagaland attained Statehood on December 1, 1963, the state had only one woman parliamentarian – Rano M Shaiza, who was elected to the Lower House (Lok Sabha) in 1977. She held office till 1980.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
BJP candidate S Phangnon Konyak is all set to be the first woman member from Nagaland in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) as the Naga People’s Front (NPF) backed out of the electoral contest at the last minute on March 21, the last day for filing nomination.
S Phangnon will also be the second Naga woman parliamentarian. Since Nagaland attained Statehood on December 1, 1963, the state had only one woman parliamentarian – Rano M Shaiza, who was elected to the Lower House (Lok Sabha) in 1977. She held office till 1980.
BJP’s S Phangnon Konyak holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University.
MLA and BJP National Spokesperson, Mmhonlumo Kikon has congratulated S Phangnon. “Upon clearing scrutiny as the lone candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat from Nagaland it is with exceeding joy & delight to acknowledge the historic verdict of Smt @phangnon as the first Women Rajya Sabha Member from Nagaland!”, he said in a tweet.
Upon clearing scrutiny as the lone candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat from Nagaland it is with exceeding joy & delight to acknowledge the historic verdict of Smt @phangnon as the first Women Rajya Sabha Member from Nagaland! I thank @narendramodi ji for his love & vision! pic.twitter.com/1t4PpaUOR0
— Mmhonlumo Kikon (@MmhonlumoKikon) March 22, 2022
Meanwhile, clarifying on the letter forwarded by Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Shurhozelie Liezietsu on March 21, NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP) secretary Chumben Murry said that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government was formed on the “understanding” of pursuing the protracted Naga political issue for a “negotiated solution” at the earliest, and consequent upon which one of the NPF MLAs was inducted in the cabinet along with the UDA chairman.
“As such under the given situation, the NPF cannot file nomination to the Rajya Sabha election which would tantamount to withdrawing from the UDA coalition, Chumben remarked.