90 votes for 16 years of fast: Irom Sharmila says goodbye to politics

March 11, 2017

New Delhi, Mar 11: Famous civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, who plunged into politics last year after ending her world's longest hunger strike which ran for 16 years, proved to be a disaster in Manipur elections after the results were announced on Saturday.

Shockingly only a handful of 90 people voted in her favour from Thoubal constituency while her main opponent and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh got 18,649 votes.

Even the NOTA (None of the Above) option got 143 votes, much more than what Sharmila got on her debut.
The real threat to Singh was BJP whose candidate Leitanthem Basanta Singh polled 8179 votes. Sharmila, on the other hand, had openly announced last year that she wants to become the chief minister of Manipur to achieve her goal of repealing AFSPA.

A disheartened Sharmila was quick to announce her decision to quit politics but said she will continue her fight against AFSPA.
She said she is fed up of the political system and will never fight elections again in life.
"But I will continue my fight against AFSPA until and unless it is repealed. I will fight as a social activist," she said.

Her party PRJA (Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance) had put up candidates for three seats and had got support from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) comprising six parties including CPI, CPIM, JDU and AAP. The other two candidates also lost badly and even lost their deposit.

"We have lost a battle in the long war, but we have started the fire, initiated a movement which will continue. Thanks all for the support," PRJA said on Twitter.

What went wrong?

The Meira Paibis (women activists) who had been Sharmila's backbone during her agitation against the 'draconian' Armed Forces Special Powers Act went against her once she announced entry into politics.

Even during campaigning, Sharmila looked alone with a bicycle and a whistle (party's symbol).

Her dharna against AFSPA had made her famous throughout the state as an activist even before she got into politics.

In the recent years her romantic relationship with Desmond Coutinho, a Goa-born British citizen, had not got down well with her supporters.

Recently she had to even apologise for her boyfriend's misbehaviour with her supporters but also announced to get married once the elections are over.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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