First Woman From Nagaland S Phangnon Konyak Elected As Rajya Sabha Member

S Phangnon Konyak was elected as an unopposed member of the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland. This position by Konyak marks the first time a woman candidate being chosen to the seat in Rajya Sabha from the state. She belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was announced duly elected for the new term.

The current Council of States seat from Nagaland is about to expire on April 2, 2022. The statement of her unopposed victory was given out by the electoral officer V Shashank Shekhar. The returning officer for the biennial election in Nagaland Khruohituonuo Rio said that no other candidate had filled in the nominations.

The Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio congratulated Konyak and wrote, "...I am confident that you will represent our state exceptionally well. I wish you the best for a successful tenure."

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S Phangnon Konyak Elected

She is the second woman after Rano M Shazia, who was elected into the Lok Sabha, to enter the parliamentary house from Nagaland. Konyak is the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Mahila Morcha for the state of Nagaland. She resides at Kohima there. Konyak completed her schooling at the Holy Cross Higher Secondary School in Dimapur and then finished her degree at the University of Delhi.

In nearly five decades, she has become the second woman to represent Nagaland in national politics. Shazia had gotten elected to LS in 1977 and since it has been a huge gap.

Her recommendation to RS was supported by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader and State Chief Minister Rio. On her initial selection for the position, the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman had taken to Twitter and posted a congratulatory message to the political leader and fellow party member.

Along with her selection, BJP also fielded candidates from Assam and Tripura. They have recommended Pabitra Margherita from Assam and Professor Dr Manik Saha from Tripura.

(Feature Image Credit: The Hindustan Times)