Nagaland Gets Its First Two Women MLAs in NDPP’s Hekani Jakhalu, Salhoutuonuo Kruse | Nagaland Election News

KOHIMA: After 60 years of its statehood, Nagaland wrote history on Thursday when two female candidates were elected in the 2023 state assembly elections.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse AND Hekani Jakhaluboth members of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), accomplished a historic feat by winning their respective seats.
Kruse emerged victorious in the Western Angami AC constituency while Jakhalu secured the seat of Dimapur-III.
Hekhani Jakhalu
Hekhani Jakhalu is a faculty member of the University of Delhi and holds a bachelor’s degree from the same institution. Jakhalu got 14,395 votes.
“This is just the first step. We have to do a lot of good things in the future,” said Jakhalu of his victory.
Jakhalu, who was honored with the Nari Shakti Award in 2018, had made a four point pledge to the people of the constituency.
During the election, the social entrepreneur had also pledged to provide livelihoods for young people, fighting for women’s rights, modeling her constituency and putting special emphasis on developing minority areas of her constituency .
Salhoutuonuo Kruse
Salhoutuonuo Kruse, a hotelier, ran against Nakhro in Angami West constituency.
He has also served in NGOs for more than 24 years.
“Today we created history. This epochal victory belongs to us. I owe this victory to God Almighty and my citizens of Angami West. I am very humbled by the support everyone has given me,” Salhoutuonuo Kruse said in a tweet.

Both Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio showed their support for Kruse during the campaign.
Four female candidates in the fray
This year there were four female candidates – Jakhalu, Kruse, Congress’ Rosy Thomson and the BJP’s Kahuli Sema – in the fray.
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio congratulates Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu on their victory.

“Sincere congratulations to Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu for winning the assembly elections. You carry the hopes of women and future generations as change-makers and role models. I hope you will continue to be passionate and courageous,” tweeted Neiphiu Rio.