History has been created in Nagaland on 1 March 2023 as the constituents of 3 Dimapur-III and 8 Western Angami elected Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 2 March 2023.

Both women contested the elections with Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) tickets.

Jakhalu won the seat in Dimapur district by 1536 votes against the sitting MLA Azheto Zhimomi (LJP) who was denied the NDPP ticket.

Hekani Jakhalu is the founder of YouthNet Nagaland, which helps youths of Nagaland to pursue business opportunities.

In 2018, she was also awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar award for empowering women, unemployed and drop-out youths to develop skills and find a livelihood.

During her campaign she had stated that she is in this election for four reasons – youth, women, to make Dimapur-III a model constituency, and the minority community.

Salhoutuonuo Kruse has won from 8 Western Angami Assembly Constituency against the sitting MLA Keneizhakho Nakhro by a difference of just 7 votes. Her Late husband Er. Kevisekho Kruse had lost to Nakhro in 2018.

At her campaign at Khonoma Village, Salhoutuonuo Kruse had shared her vision for equal infrastructural development and representation of urban and rural areas, youth and women empowerment, skill development and employment, to improve the quality of life the people by enhancing good governance, peace and security and to create a model constituency.

The 2023 General Election was momentous for women in the state because four women decided to stand and fight for seats at the NLA.

While Rosy Thomson and Er. Kahuli Sema could not register wins, their courageous nominations itself has given inexpressible inspiration to women and girls all across Nagaland.