Manipur: Irom Sharmila covers 20-km on bicycle to file nomination in ‘style’

Irom Sharmila has filed her nomination papers from Thoubal constituency for the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections.

Imphal, Feb 17: She is not a regular politician, who travels in expensive cars and well-guarded by several people. Activist-turned-politician Irom Sharmila Chanu--who is also known as the Iron Lady of Manipur--has always done things differently. Even when she had to file her nomination papers for the upcoming assembly polls in the northeastern state, Irom decided to cover a distance of approximately 20 kilometres from Imphal (her home) on her bicycle.

Irom, who has founded the People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance party last year, filed her nomination papers from Thoubal constituency of the state. "PRJA's Irom Sharmila rides a bicycle to file nomination for Thoubal Assembly seat in Manipur assembly polls against CM Okram Ibobi," reported ANI on Friday.

Irom is contesting the election against Congress leader and three-time chief minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh. In fact, she is regular seen campaigning on her bicycle wearing a cap to protect her from the sun and dust.

Recently, she created a stir by revealing that the Bharatiya Janata Party had allegedly offered her Rs 36 crore to fight the elections as a saffron party candidate. Irom was on a 16-year-long fast demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power act (AFSPA) from the state before joining mainstream politics last year.

Polling for the 60 seats Manipur Assembly elections will be hosted in two phases on March 4 and March 8. Results will be declared on March 11. In the last assembly polls, the Congress won 42 seats and Singh was re-elected as the chief minister of the state.

OneIndia News