Changing the turf of her movement, Manipur's prominent human rights defender Irom Sharmila Chanu on Tuesday launched her political party, People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA).
Sharmila, who ended her 16-year long fast on August 9 this year, vowed to take her fight for repealing the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) politically.
Sharmila launched the PRJA during a Press conference in Manipur capital Imphal today. The party will field at least 20 candidates in the forthcoming Assembly election in Manipur and Sharmila will contest in two seats, contesting against chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in one of them.
While Erendro leichonbam was elected as the party convenor, Sharmila was elected as the co-convener.
The human right defender, who is the face of human rights movement in Manipur, had earlier stated that she wants to become the chief minister of Manipur to bring positive change and to repeal the AFSPA.
Sharmila who was better known as the Iron lady of Manipur had started an indefinite fast in 2000 protesting against alleged killing of ten civilians by the Assam Rifles at Malom near Imphal.
She was arrested by the police and kept in custody since then for every one year. The Manipur government had also turn a ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Regional Institute of Medical Science into a jail for keeping Sharmila. She was also force fed a liquid diet through her nose since last several years.
On August 9 this year, Sharmila broke her epic fast and she was released from the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences the same day.