"Lot of external force trying to impact assembly polls, pre-decide results": JKNC President Sajad Lone

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 16 : Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference president Sajad Lone on Monday alleged that a lot of external forces are trying to impact the upcoming J-K assembly elections and pre-decide the results.
Lone said that the people showed a lot of fervour in the Parliament elections which is slightly missing in the assembly elections.
"It's (J-K elections) being held after 10 years. Unfortunately, I think, there are a lot of external forces that are trying to impact the elections and pre-decide the results...Typically, people have shown a lot of fervour in the Parliament elections. That fervour is slightly missing and one of the reasons could be because people think this is a UT Assembly," he said.
"But overall, I think polling will be good. But given that people had participated in huge numbers, the least people expected was respect for the electoral process and freedom from any external influences, that has not happened," the J-K People's Conference leader said.
When asked where he sees his party standing in the upcoming J-K elections, Lone said, "I think one of the biggest mistakes that the Election Commission made was to hold elections in the middle of farming and apple season. So, which party has held a big public meeting to date? None."
Earlier in the day, JKNC and INDIA alliance candidate for the Ramban constituency, Arjun Singh Raju took stock of the last day of campaigning in his constituency.
"Today is the last day of a campaign for the Ramban assembly election for which voting will be held on September 18. It's a 16- to 17-day campaign in Ramban and we visited every panchayat of the seat. Our brethren Hindus and Muslims will exercise their franchise in the assembly polls for which voting will be held on September 18," he said.
On the last day of the campaign, Arjun Singh held a last-minute meeting with party workers at the party office. Singh is confident of getting the people's mandate.
"Our party is fighting for restoration of article 370 in Kashmir. We have a clear stand. I have worked for the people of Ramban and therefore must win. People have reposed faith in me. We are expecting that people will make us victorious in the polls," Arjun Singh said.
"We are getting support from people in large numbers and are also trying to win their confidence. I thank PDP also for walking hand in hand with us," he added. The PDP has not fielded a candidate from Ramban.
Arjun Singh Raju will be up against BJP's Rakesh Singh Thakur and other independent candidates in Ramban.
"We don't see the elections from the angle of profit and loss, we have kept our point of view in front of the people and it remains to be seen how the public responds. From top to bottom of the file ranks, everyone is enthusiastic about the outcome of the polls," he said.
"We are eagerly waiting for the September 18 verdict of the people and hope that JKNC will triumph," he added.
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting will take place on October 8.