After being on fast for the last 16 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Irom Chanu Sharmila, better known as Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’, is all set to end her fast on Tuesday.

According to her brother Irom Singhajit, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist, who was forcibly fed through a nasal tube since 2000 to keep her alive at a prison-turned-hospital, will break her fast at a local court.

“She will be produced before a judicial magistrate tomorrow and the court will release her from judicial custody after she breaks her fast as she had announced a fortnight ago,” he told PTI.

Though a large number of her supporters and women activists under the forum of Sharmila Kunba Lup will be meeting her as she starts her new journey, Sharmila’s 84-year-old mother Shakhi Devi will be conspicuous by her absence.

“She will not go there to meet her. She is waiting for the moment of her victory which will come only when AFSPA is repealed,” Singhajit, who will be present at the courtroom tomorrow (on Tuesday), said.

The 42-year-old Irom has been on a hunger strike since November 2000.

Irom began her hunger strike to protest against the death of 10 Manipuris who were shot dead by the Assam Rifles in Imphal.

Sharmila had earlier rejected Aam Aadmi Party’s offer to contest Lok Sabha elections under its banner from the inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat in 2014.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said that it will welcome activist Irom Sharmila if she wants to join the saffron party.

BJP leader, K.H. Joykishan told ANI that Sharmila contesting elections from a BJP ticket is a decision which is to be considered by the central leadership of the party.