"Proud to represent my great country India," says Phangnon at Egypt meet

'Day 1' of the Eighth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Egypt, Nagaland

achieved a minor milestone as the lone woman Rajya Sabha member and BJP 

lawmaker S Phangnon Konyak attended the mega prestigious event on Wednesday.

"I am truly honoured and feel extremely proud to represent my great country India,'

tweeted Ms Konyak, whose election to the Upper House of Parliament in March 

almost revolutionised women' lib movement in the state.

"Will do my best to learn, share and absorb!," she sounded grounded and humble

in her missive on the micro blogging site.

Her feat came in for appreciation by state BJP president Temjen Along Jamir, who described

the occasion as a "proud moment for Nagas, as our very own first woman MP to Rajya Sabha, Smti

@SPhangnon  Konyak will be representing India at the 8th IPU Global Conference".

In her Twitter missive, Phangnon also wrote: "I shall be in Egypt for the two days as part of the 

Indian delegation to participate in the Eighth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, 

at Sharm el-Sheikh, where I'll also get to share my thoughts. Looking forward!". 

Second female after Rano Shaiza had made it to the Lok Sabha in the 1970s, Ms

Konyak was elected unopposed from Nagaland on March 24 this year becoming the first woman 

elected to the House of Elders from Nagaland.

This year's theme at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meet is 'Young MPs for Climate Action'.

The conference is expected to reflect on what may be the most 'pressing and existential' issue requiring strong international responses - the fight to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

According to her, "We are on the right track with much potential to be unlocked". This was 

in the context of Nagaland and the North East region coming a long way under PM Narendra Modi.

"From deliberately being kept on the periphery to becoming an important and indispensable 

part of the country's progress, #NorthEast has come a long way under PM @narendramodi

 ji," Ms Phangnon had tweeted on June 13.

The 8th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians is jointly organized by the 

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Egyptian House of Representatives to provide 

a platform to young MPs from across the world to exchange, learn and define common and 

innovative strategies to advance youth empowerment.

This year in Egypt, around 200 young MPs, including the MPs from India, from 60 

countries are participating.

The IPU data revealed that out of 35,177 parliamentary seats globally but just 2.66 percent 

of these are held by young MPs.

Indian Ambassador to Egypt Ajit V Gupte hosted a dinner for the Indian delegation on Tuesday.

"A historic moment for the Nagas...," also tweeted H. Tovihoto Ayemi, advisor Department of Power.

"Hopeful that you'll have a productive experience as you venture on this new opportunity and many more opportunities ahead".

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to JD(U), BJD on Presidential polls, also chats with Kharge of Congress 

The process of selecting of candidates for the next month's Presidential polls from the ruling NDA and the opposition camp got underway on June 14-15.

Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh - as authorized by his party - has spoken to NDA ally JD(U) on Presidential candidate for "consensus". 

Singh, also a former BJP national president, has also spoken to Biju Janata Dal chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. 

Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in his attempt to reach out to the opposition camp on Presidential polls.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Kharge, however, said, "Rajnath Singh called me and spoke about the Presidential polls. But when asked about the proposal, there was no response. I am saying if the opposition comes up with a non controversial name...will the government accept that?" 

Mamata move on Prez polls turns a non-starter, TRS to boycott

 K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samity (TRS) has announced boycott of Mamata Banerjee-initiated meet of opposition parties on ensuing Presidential polls.

AAP may also stay away from the meet but it is speculated that Arvind Kejriwal's party may keep fingers crossed for the Presidential polls and wait for the final announcement of candidate's name is considered or made.

 Among those attended the June 15 meet in Delhi are Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader T R Baalu, Shiv Sena’s Subhash Desai and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh.

Samajwadi Party and National Conference are also expected to attend the meeting.

The TRS and AAP moves are largely seen as setbacks to the move for presenting an united face of the opposition.

TRS has announced its decision to maintain equi distance from Congress and BJP.

The BJP has authorized its president J P Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath

Singh to work out with allies and friendly opposition parties to work

out its candidates.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has ruled himself out from the race. But he met Mamata Banerjee on her arrival from Kolkata and Pawar had a luncheon meeting with CPI leader D Raja.

Opposition parties reportedly wanted Sharad Pawar to contest presidential elections, but declines offer.   

The Presidential polls voting by elected MPs and MLAs will be held on July 18.

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