Imphal, Feb. 13: Manipur's rights crusader-turned-politician Irom Sharmila today identified the "BJP leader" who had allegedly offered her a BJP ticket and Rs 36 crore for contesting the elections against chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

"A BJP leader, claiming to be a BJP convener and identifying himself as Surbinod, came to me while I was in jail. At that time I was contemplating to end my hunger strike and contest the Assembly elections. Surbinod told me that I would require Rs 36 crore for election campaign against the chief minister," Sharmila told reporters today.

She named the "BJP leader" after the party yesterday sought proof of her allegations of cash offer in an interview to a news channel a few days back.

Sharmila claimed that Surbinod had told her that if she did not have that much amount for election expenditure, he would organise funds from the BJP's national leaders.

Strongly reacting to Sharmila's allegations, BJP general secretary Thongam Biswajit Singh yesterday announced that the BJP would take legal action against her if she failed to provide proof of her charges. "No BJP leader offered Sharmila any money. She must give us proof of her allegations; otherwise, we will take legal action against her. She might have made the allegations at the behest of the Congress," Biswajit Singh said while reacting to the allegations of cash offer.

Talking to reporters today, Sharmila said she was ready to face legal action but would not change her stance on the money offer. "However, right now, I do not want to indulge in mudslinging," she added.

BJP vice-president Moirangthem Asnikumar Singh told The Telegraph that there was no convener or office-bearer of their party named Surbinod.

"We do not have any office-bearer named Surbinod. We did not authorise anyone to approach Sharmila with the offer of a party ticket or cash for fighting the election," Asnikumar Singh said.

Sticking to her claim of the cash offer, Sharmila said she could not be bought with money by anyone, saying she was fighting for justice for all.

Sharmila ended her nearly 16-year hunger strike last year and formed the People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) with a group of young supporters.

She is contesting against Ibobi Singh in his constituency of Thoubal in Thoubal district.

The PRJA is fielding five candidates for the two-phase Assembly elections on March 4 and 5.

The convener of the alliance, Leichombam Erendro, said the PRJA candidates would not distribute any cash to the electorate to vote for the party. "We are incorruptible," Erendro said.