Phangnon Konyak, the first woman to be elected as Member of Rajya Sabha from Nagaland, made history by presiding over the House on Tuesday. She took the seat as Vice-Chairman of the August House in the Rajya Sabha after being appointed to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons on 17 July 2023.

The MP among the four first ever women members of the panel of Vice-Chairpersons who were nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar. The other members are P.T. Usha, Dr. Fauzia Khan and Sulata Deo. It is the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.

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Reacting to the momentous occasion, Phangnon Konyak wrote on Twitter, “Immensely privileged, humbled and overwhelmed to preside over the Rajya Sabha today. Happy that it was a productive one with The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022, having been passed by the House.”

She also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for lifting women “due respect and space in politics and leadership” and Vice President and Chairman of RS Jagdeep Dhankhar for the opportunity.

Immensely privileged, humbled and overwhelmed to preside over the Rajya Sabha today. Happy that it was a productive one with The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022, having been passed by the House. Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri… pic.twitter.com/DnAdyWybWF

— S. Phangnon Konyak (@SPhangnon) July 25, 2023

Phangnon Konyak was elected as Member of Rajya Sabha from Nagaland in April 2022 and is the second woman from the State to be elected to either House of the Parliament or the State Assembly.

She is a member of Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Committee on Empowerment of Women, House Committee and Member, Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong.

Responding to the tweet by the MP, Prime Minister Modi retweeted with the caption, “A very proud moment.”