Irom Sharmila led-PRJA is Manipur’s first crowd funded political party

For PRJA, the Manipur elections are aimed at dealing with the issues like AFSPA, corruption, divisive politics and unemployment

By: Chandrani Sinha |
January 19, 2017 3:19 pm

People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) is the first crowd-funded political party of India that is gearing up for the 2017 Manipur Assembly poll. The party led by Irom Sharmila is based on four principles – Justice, Love, Understanding and Peace.

The key agenda is to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and fight against violence and militarisation. The PRJA members pledge to utilize just peacefulness as a way to accomplish their political objectives.

Meanwhile, 20 candidates will be contesting in the state elections in 2017 which will be held in 2 phases on March 4 and March 8.

Sharmila plans to contest from two constituencies, Thoubal AC and Khurai AC: her own locality, and the constituency of the present Chief Minister Ibobi Singh.

One of the largest crowd-funding agencies in Asia, Ketto is supporting PRJA’s online campaign and has even created a platform to raise election expenses. Since PRJA has a social as well as a political angle to it, Ketto partnered with the party to raise funds for the political campaign in this election, said PRJA Conveyor Erendo Leichombam.

Leichombam, an educationist and entrepreneur with a degree from Harvard, is the Conveyor of PRJA and will contest from the Thangmeiband constituency. Najma Phundreimayum, co-conveyor and a veteran women’s rights activist of Manipur, will be the first Muslim woman candidate to contest in the electoral history of Manipur. She will be contesting from Wabagai.

For PRJA, the 11th Manipur Assembly election is aimed at dealing with the issues like AFSPA, corruption, divisive politics and unemployment. Sharmila has maintained that the concept of using muscle and money power to win an election is outdated.