Ruling coalition fronts 3 women candidates

February 3, 2023 38 Views No Comment

NDPP sets up 2, BJP 1

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 3

The buzz has been over the absence of some prominent incumbent legislators in the BJP-NDPP coalition’s list of candidates, announced on February 2, for the elections to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

But the surprising element was the listing of women candidates – two by the NDPP and one by the BJP – in a state that has seldom had major political parties fronting women as potential electoral winners.

According to the list of candidates released by the BJP and the NDPP, the coalition partners will have women candidates in 32 Atoizu, 3 Dimapur III and 8 Western Angami Assembly Constituencies.

The BJP has set up Er Kahuli Sema in 32 Atoizu Assembly Constituency, currently held by the Er Picto Shohe, who shifted allegiance to the NDPP, alongwith 21 other NPF MLAs, in April 2022. Er Sema had retired as the Engineer-in-Chief of the Nagaland PWD in 2022 to make the electoral plunge.

In 3 Dimapur III, lawyer-turned-social entrepreneur and Nari Shakti awardee Hekani Jakhalu wrested the NDPP ticket from NPF-turned-NDPP MLA, Azheto Zhimomi. She is also credited with founding YouthNet Nagaland.
In the 8 Western Angami seat, another NPF-turned-NDPP MLA (in office) Keneizhakho Nakhro met a similar fate, losing the NDPP ticket to Salhoutuonuo Kruse. Kruse’s husband was the late Er Kevisekho Kruse, who contested in the same seat as an NDPP candidate in the 2018 elections. The 8 Western Angami seat was once held by Nagaland state’s second Chief Minister, TN Angami.

The fronting of women by prominent political parties is seen as a major shift in a state that has shunned women’s participation in decision making. The Nagal Mothers Association’s Rosemary Dzüvichü attributed it to a “shift in the socio-political discourse” in Nagaland over the last two elections, as far as the candidature/inclusion of women to the Assembly is concerned.

“I am definitely excited and happy to see societal changes and grateful to our youth and men too,” she said. While stating that the state has young leaders, “Who are more open to politically empowering (women) than many patriarchs,” she added, “I just hope our women candidates do not forget the power of women voters.”