International Womens Day 2023: Who Is Hekani Jakhalu? Know Facts About The First Woman MLA Of Nagaland

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On Thursday, 02 March 2023, Hekani Jakhalu scripted history when she became the first-ever woman MLA in the state of Nagaland. Jakhalu won from the Dimapur III constituency, and was fielded by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party(NDPP). It is by 1536 votes, she defeated Azheto Zhimomi of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

Salhoutuonuo Kruse was another woman candidate, from the NDPP, who is leading in the Western Angami seat, mentioned reports. The ruling NDPP-BJP alliance has won three seats till now and is leading with more than 35 seats, it is all set to retain power in Nagaland.

In 2018, since the last elections, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, has been in an alliance with the BJP. The alliance had won 30 seats in the previous elections and while NPF won 26.

Reports mention that BJP had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's agenda of peace and development in the northeast, as the party led in a majority of seats in Tripura while its alliance government appeared set to retain power in Nagaland.

Lawyer-Activist Hekani Jakhalu: Facts About First-Ever Woman MLA In Nagaland

• Hekani Jakhalu Kense was born in 1976, in Dimapur, which is the largest city in the state of Nagaland. Lieutenant Colonel S I Jakhalu is the father of Jakhalu.
• She comes from a middle-class family and financial struggle is something that she has seen very closely.
• The 48-year-old is the founder and Chair of Youth Net Nagaland (2006) which impacts the lives of more than one lakh people.
• She is a law activist and a social entrepreneur and helps people, particularly youths to seek business prospects.
• In 2013, she did her Masters in Law from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
• She also has experience and training from the American University in Washington DC, Amnesty International in the United Nations headquarters in New York.
• She is a recipient of the Nari Shakti Award by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India in 2018.
• She is the only recipient of this prestigious award for women in the northeast.
• She was one of three women candidates- Hukali Sema, Salhoutuo Kruse, and Rosy Thompson to contest the Assembly elections of 2023.