Salhoutuonuo Kruse (née Kruneilie; born 15 December 1966) is an Indian politician from Nagaland. In 2023, Along with Hekani Jakhalu Kense, Kruse became the first women to be elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. She was appointed the Minister of Women Resource Development & Horticulture in the 5th Rio ministry, making her also the first female cabinet minister in Nagaland. She previously served as a president of the Angami Women Organization.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Minister, Government of Nagaland | |
| Assumed office 7 March 2023 | |
| Governor | La. Ganesan |
| Cabinet | Fifth Rio ministry |
| Chief Minister | Neiphiu Rio |
| Ministry and Departments |
|
| Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office March 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Keneizhakho Nakhro |
| Constituency | Western Angami |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Salhoutuonuo Kruneilie 15 December 1966 Kiruphema, Kohima District, Nagaland, India |
| Political party | Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party |
| Spouse |
Kevisekho Kruse
(m. 1986; died 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Kohima |
| Education | Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School |
| Alma mater | Kohima College (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Early life
editSalhoutuonuo Kruneilie was born 15 December 1966 to an Angami Naga family from Kiruphema Bawe. She studied at Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School in Kohima and later, completed her graduation from Kohima College. She married Kevisekho Kruse, an engineer on 2 October 1986.[1] Kevisekho retired as a chief engineer of Nagaland's Public Health Engineering Department. He later joined politics.[2]
Career
editKruse served as the President of the Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (now known as Angami Women Organization) from 2011 to 2014.[3]
Political life
editKruse's husband, Kevisekho Kruse, joined Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in 2018 and fought the Nagaland Legislative Assembly election that year from the Western Angami Assembly seat as the party candidate. He lost to Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate Keneizhakho Nakhro by 694 votes. Later, Nakhro joined the NDPP in 2022.[4]
Kruse's husband died on 4 June 2021 due to complications arising from COVID-19. Nakhro in his condolence message stated, "He was a visionary leader full of impeccable knowledge, hopes, positive energy and keenly loved across by many for his lively nature and simplicity."[4] In the subsequent state elections, Salhoutuonuo Kruse was given the NDPP party ticket over sitting MLA Nakhro for the Western Angami seat. The latter then fought the election as an independent candidate.[5] By standing for elections, Kruse said that she wanted to fulfil her husband's political vision.[6]
In 2023, Kruse was elected as a candidate of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party from the Western Angami Assembly constituency in the 2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election defeating Keneizhakho Nakhro, an independent candidate.[5] Kruse later attributed her electoral victory by an extremely small margin to "God's providence."[7] She along with Hekani Jakhalu became the first ever elected women MLA from Nagaland.[8][9][10]
She was appointed the Minister of Women Resource Development & Horticulture in the 5th Rio ministry, making her also the first female cabinet minister in Nagaland.[11][12]
Personal life
editKruse is a Baptist Christian and she attends Ministers' Hill Baptist Church in Kohima.
She was married to Kevisekho Kruse. They married on 2 October 1986 and had two daughters together.[1] He later died from complications of COVID-19 on 4 June 2021 at age 60.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Salhoutuonuo Kruse, the first woman minister of Nagaland, made history in her debut fight". CNBC TV18. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Morung Express News (4 June 2021). "Condolences pour in for Er Kevisekho Kruse". The Morung Express. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Angami Women Organization triennial meet held". The Morung Express. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ a b Morung Express News (29 April 2022). "Twenty one NPF MLAs join NDPP". The Morung Express.
- ^ a b Kalita, Kangkan (3 March 2023). "Nagaland gets its 1st women MLAs". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Salhoutuonuo Kruse- first woman minister of Nagaland". The Morung Express. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Morung Express News (14 March 2023). "'Winning by 7 votes only through God's providence,' says Kruse". The Morung Express. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Dhar, Aniruddha (2 March 2023). "Nagaland scripts history in assembly election, elects 2 women candidates for first time". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Hekhani Jakhalu, Salhoutuonuo Kruse become first women MLAs in Nagaland assembly". Deccan Herald. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Nagaland Creates History By Electing Two Women Candidates In Assembly Elections". Guwahati Plus. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Nagaland Cabinet allots portfolios". The Morung Express. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Gupta, Shobhit (7 March 2023). "Who is Salhoutuonuo Kruse — first woman minister of Nagaland? 5 things". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "NDPP holds memorial service in memory of K Kruse". Eastern Mirror. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Various Organisations Mourn Death Of Kruse". Nagaland Page. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
External links
edit