After being let down by her people, Manipur’s iron lady Irom Chanu Sharmila said she has been let down by her people and wants to retreat to an ashram for at least a month for introspection.
She also said that she will quit politics, The Indian Express reported. NOTA has got more vote than Sharmila.
Manipur’s Iron lady Irom Sharmila, who sacrificed long 16 years for the historic struggle against the Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA), managed to get just only 90 votes in her election debut in the state.
The founder of the Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance has lost election to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal constituency. Singh secured more than 18,000 votes while BJP’s Leitanthem Basanta Singh came second with 8729 votes.
Earlier in the day, Sharmila said she is not much affected by the exit poll result, adding that in case of her defeat she will try again in the 2019 General Election.
“I do not feel much affected by the result. It depends upon the people’s mindset. I don’t feel much affected by it, because people can still change their minds and everybody knows muscle and money power is being openly used by parties,” the iron lady was voted by ANI as saying.
“What we really need to be is the power to bring the change and make the difference from dark to light. In case of my defeat, I want to try in 2019 election,” she added.
Sharmila, who continued her fast-unto-death for 16 years to demand the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, entered electoral politics saying she wanted to become Chief Minister to repeal the AFSPA.
She had ended her hunger strike in August 2016 and launched the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance in October 2016.
