Srinagar, India - Sajjad Lone, a prominent leader of the separatist movement in India-administered Kashmir, announced Saturday that he would be contesting the coming general elections. Lone, who heads the People Conference, one of the many separatist political organizations in Kashmir, announced he would be contesting from Baramulla constituency.

"This is the best way I could represent Kashmiri aspirations ... This is a change in strategy, not in ideology," Lone said at a press briefing in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir state capital.

He said he believed in a separate Kashmir, but was using available mechanisms to represent the voice of the Kashmiri people in India's Parliament.

"I am not seeking power ... but looking for a bigger platform to raise the Kashmiri voice," Lone said. "I will represent Kashmir in India not India in Kashmir," he added.

He said the parties that had represented people of Kashmir earlier were stooges of the Indian government.

Lone's decision to contest elections, which separatists have boycotted for years, may pose problems for the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a conglomeration of over 20 separatist outfits.

The separatists face a dilemma after the large turnout of voters for local elections to the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly in November-December 2008.

The successful elections followed months of stand-off between the separatists and government troops and police over a land row which snowballed into anti-India protests. (dpa)