Civil rights activist and Iron Lady of Manipur Irom Chanu Sharmila lost from Thoubal constituency. The Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance party (PRAJA) which Sharmila started after ending her fast in 2016 did not secure enough votes. At 12.30pm INC won 10seats, BJP 4seats, NSP 2 seats and others 4seats. PRAJA didn’t open its account yet.
She managed to get only 90 votes as she lost with a heavy margin to anti-incumbent chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. She might lose her deposit of Rs 10,000, a rule for all candidates who get less than one-sixth of votes in a constituency.
The loss is a blow to Sharmila’s aim to repeal AFSPA from the state. However the PRAJA Chief earlier said that she would contest in 2019 elections. She possibly lost her deposit as she did not get one sixth of votes in constituency. The PRAJA party faced a severe shortage of funds to campaign during the assembly elections.
Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s has secured around 18,649 votes as the results are counted. He has ruled in Manipur for 15 years.
Even so earlier in the day Sharmila said, “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 elections were held for a total of 60 seats in the North Eastern state which has seen a highest voter turnout of 86%.
