Srinagar:
After the call for a poll boycott by Kashmiri separatists was soundly rejected by voters during the recent assembly elections, there is a clear change in strategy for leaders such as Sajjad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference.
Lone now wants to embrace the electoral system by contesting himself.
Lone was the most familiar separatist face on television after the Amarnath land row, advocating Kashmir's freedom and exhorting people to boycott elections.
But now Sajjad Lone has changed track by making the announcement to contest the general elections from north Kashmir.
"This is a change in strategy, not ideology. I will represent Kashmir in India, not India in Kashmir," said Lone.
The son of assassinated leader Adbdul Gani Lone is trying to catch up with people who rejected the separatist poll boycott call during the assembly elections three months ago.
Kashmiri separatists have boycotted every election in the last two decades, but this time, barring Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, no separatist has called for poll boycott.
Separatist self-perceived limited options has put them on the poll boycott track again and again to prove their relevance, but after people's rejection of boycott calls in recent assembly elections, Sajad Lone has become first separatists who has changed the track to subject himself to the democratic will of people.