Irom Sharmila Says BJP Offered Rs 36 Crore, Ram Madhav Denies It

Irom will be contesting the Manipur Assembly elections in March against Ibobi Singh from the Thoubal constituency.

File photo of activist Irom Sharmila. (Photo: Reuters)

Manipur activist Irom Chanu Sharmila alleged on Sunday that the BJP wanted her to contest against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

She also added that the BJP told her that she would need Rs 36 crore to fight Ibobi and the Centre could provide it if she didn’t have the money.

“Just after my fast, I met a BJP leader who suggested that I will need a lot of money, depending on current system of politics. His suggestion was that if I wanted to fight Ibobi, I will need Rs 36 crore. If I have it, I should use it, if not, the Centre would sanction it… ,” she said in an interview.

But she wants to fight as an Independent.

Irom will be contesting Manipur Assembly elections in March against Congress candidate Ibobi Singh from the Thoubal constituency. Thoubal is Ibobi’s home constituency from where he has won in the past three assembly polls.

BJP national secretary, Ram Madhav, tweeted later in the day and denied the charges.