Women victors from unreserved wards reflect on historic wins

DIMAPUR — In a historic win for women’s representation, Nagaland elected 102 women to its urban local bodies on June 29. The results, stemming from elections conducted after a two-decade delay due to issues surrounding women’s quota and property tax, mark a significant milestone for the state.

A total of 278 seats were up for grabs, with women securing over 36% of the positions. Notably, eight women triumphed in unreserved wards.

On Monday, Eastern Mirror spoke to some of the winners from unreserved wards to get their views and opinions.

Among them was Thenusou Sekhose Yhome of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), who secured a victory in Ward-6, D Block, under the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) by a margin of 65 votes.

She attributed her decision to contest in the unreserved ward to her strong desire to serve the community and said that women bring unique perspectives and experiences that can help uplift the community.

Yhome said she was confident in the evolving perspective of Naga society, stating that a candidate’s potential and community support should hold greater weight than whether the candidate is male or female.

She acknowledged the challenges faced during her campaign, particularly in convincing some individuals of a woman’s capability to lead in an unreserved ward. However, the support she received from her family and community members, including men, reinforced her decision to contest.

She maintained that Nagaland has made strides in gender equality, pointing to a shift in societal mindset that encourages women’s participation in governance while citing the progress of women across various fields, including education and politics, as evidence of this positive change.

Her priorities for Ward-6 include addressing concerns related to sanitation, water supply, footpaths, and drainage, with an emphasis on community engagement.

Another NDPP winner, Ruth Thong from Ward-9 of Tseminyu Town Council, shared that she decided to contest in an unreserved ward to demonstrate that women can compete in the general category as well. She said her husband was her biggest supporter and also mentioned that her late father was her greatest inspiration.

Thong said she had considered running for a reserved seat in the 2017 ULB elections but felt a lack of confidence at the time. However, her success in contesting and winning from an unreserved ward this time, she believes, resonates as a powerful statement for women’s empowerment.

Thong shared that her campaign presented a unique challenge, as she was up against a candidate whom she regarded as a ‘fatherly figure’, and most voters were inclined towards her opponent. This dynamic, coupled with the fact that she was contesting in an unreserved ward, made her task even more demanding.

While convincing people about her vision, voters often responded with promises of prayer, she said, adding that the prayers ultimately contributed to her victory.

As a representative, Thong emphasised that women should be empowered to earn their own income and work alongside men. She said that addressing the pressing issue of drainage systems in her ward, particularly the flooding that occurs during the monsoon season, is among her top priorities.

Meanwhile, Sole Tep, running as an independent candidate, secured victory in Ward-3 of the Tseminyu Town Council, defeating candidates from the JDU and RPP.

Tep’s decision to contest in this ward had to do with her familiarity with the area, having campaigned there in 2023, when it was initially designated as a women’s reserved seat. Moreover, this is my ‘home ward’, she said.

Recalling her campaign trail, she noted that some residents were hesitant to support her, fearing that she might neglect the area if she won. However, she successfully dispelled such apprehensions by articulating her inclusive vision for the ward’s betterment.

She added that individuals with a genuine concern for society, regardless of gender, should come forward and participate, whether through social work or politics.

Highlighting the key challenge in her ward, Tep pointed to the lack of a proper drainage system, which turns the locality into a ‘waterfall zone’, often causing inconvenience and disputes among residents.

In the East Dimapur Town Council, Alemla Tovi of the NDPP secured Ward-9 by defeating an INC candidate.

She said that Ward-9 is a small ward where women have often taken initiatives for the welfare of the colony; therefore, she decided to contest this ULB election for the betterment of their ward.

Elaborating on her campaign, Alemla said she did not exaggerate any promises, as everyone knew each other well and understood the grievances faced by the colony.

Instead of making inflated promises, she appealed to the voters to elect the most capable candidate who could effectively address their concerns.

In her pursuit of electoral victory, she refrained from making unrealistic promises and stated that it is not about competing with men but rather standing on one’s capabilities, regardless of gender.

Further, she stressed the importance of self-belief and a strong will for anyone seeking to make a difference, regardless of the field they choose to pursue.

For her ward, addressing drainage and flood management is a critical necessity, she added.