Himachal Pradesh elections: 26 local Congress leaders join BJP ahead of polling

Twenty six local Congress leaders, including former general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee Dharampal Thakur Khand, have joined the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur extended a warm welcome to all the entrants into the BJP and said, "Let us work together for the historic victory of the party."

The move came on Tuesday with just four days left for polling in the state. Most of those who shifted allegiance belonged to the Shimla constituency from where the party has fielded greenhorn Sanjay Soo, IANS reported.


They owed allegiance to Harsh Mahajan, who had left the Congress on September 28 and joined the BJP, saying the grand old party was directionless and lacking vision.

Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 12, and the counting of votes will take place on December 8.