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Senior All Party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone on Wednesday said that the Hurriyat decided to constitute a three-member election commission of its own as it has no faith in the Election Commission of India.
"People have been raising doubts about the Hurriyat's grassroots support in Jammu and Kashmir. We have to prove our credentials," he said.
However, the Hurriyat has been in a dilemma about participating in elections as it had lost faith in the Election Commission of India (ECI), Lone told rediff.com.
"Last time elections were held in the state, the ECI was silent when the polls were rigged. How can we trust such a body?" he asked.
He said that the APHC would soon announce formation of a broad-based committee, which would nominate three prominent persons to oversee elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Whoever emerges victorious can participate in tripartite talks on Kashmir," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah has a different take on the issue.
"We have information that a majority of the Hurriyat constituents, if not all, are keen to participate in assembly elections and join the mainstream despite the 23-party amalgamation's avowed stand to the contrary."
Seeing the mood among its constituents, the Hurriyat now wants to participate in the elections while not appearing to compromise on its earlier stand, he said.
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