Meet Phangnon Konyak, the BJP MP who accused Rahul Gandhi of misbehaviour

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of "misbehaving" with her during a protest by MPs on the Parliament premises. In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Konyak detailed the incident, stating Gandhi’s behaviour made her feel "extremely uncomfortable" due to his loud tone and close physical proximity.

The Nagaland MP expressed that the encounter deeply hurt her dignity and self-esteem. "I belong to the ST community of Nagaland and I am a lady member. My dignity and self-esteem have been deeply hurt by Rahul Gandhi," Konyak wrote.

Who is Phangnon Konyak?

Phangnon Konyak is a prominent BJP leader and the first woman from Nagaland to preside over a Rajya Sabha session. She achieved this historic milestone on July 25, 2023, after being nominated to the panel of vice-chairpersons by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 17, 2022.


Konyak oversaw a significant session during which the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022, was passed. After the session, she expressed gratitude, tweeting, "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."

Hailing from Dimapur, Nagaland, Konyak holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College. Her parliamentary work spans multiple committees, including the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region. She also serves on the Committee on Empowerment of Women and the Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Shillong.

Her appointment to the panel of vice-chairpersons increased the number of women in the group to four, matching the male representation. Other women on the panel include Fauzia Khan of the NCP, PT Usha (nominated), and Sulata Deo of the Biju Janata Dal.

The allegations against Rahul Gandhi have sparked discussions in political circles. As the matter involves the dignity of a parliamentarian, any further developments will likely draw considerable attention.