Imphal: Anti-AFSPA activist Irom Sharmila launched her own political party in Imphal on Tuesday.
According to reports, Sharmila launched ‘People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance’ which will take part in the Manipur assembly elections scheduled for 2017.
“We hope to bring about a political change in Manipur where draconian laws like AFSPA will not trouble the common man,” Sharmila said, announcing the party.
The 44-year-old crusader said her party would be based on the principles of justice, understanding, love and peace.
Sharmila will contest two assembly seats, Thoubal and Khurai, and said she hopes to field at least 20 candidates for Manipur's 60 seats.
Contesting the Thoubal seat will pit her directly against Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, whose constituency is Thoubal.
She has since visited capital Delhi and sought advice on how to defeat major political parties from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the Delhi elections last year, decimating both the BJP and the Congress.
She had also said she would like to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "good advice."
Read: Irom Sharmila wants to meet Modi, take ‘good advice’ from him
Irom Sharmila Chanu was on a hunger strike for 16 years demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur. She had given up her fast on August 9, 2016, leading to astonishment and outrage among some of her supporters.
Sharmila had said then that she would contest the Manipur elections and wants to become the Chief Minister of the State so that she can repeal AFSPA.
