Shimla:

In a new political development in Himachal on Saturday six disqualified Congress rebel MLAs and three Independent MLAs joined BJP in New Delhi.

The rebel MLAs had cheated the Congress party during election for a Rajya sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh by cross voting for BJP candidate leading to defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, along with three Independent MLAs on February 27.

The Congress rebels were disqualified by Speaker of Himachal Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Pathania under anti-defection law for defying the whip during passing of budget.

MLA Rajender Rana elected  from (Sujanpur), Sudhir Sharma (Dharamshala), Ravi Thakur ( Lahaul- Spiti), ID Lakhanpal (Badsar),   Devinder Bhutto (Bangana) and Chaitanya Sharma elected from Gagret, joined BJP in presence of Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur and former Chief Minister  Jai Ram Thakur in New Delhi.

Three Independent MLAs Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra), KL Thakur ( Nalagarh),  and Ashish Sharma elected from Hamirpur, also joined BJP in New Delhi on Saturday after tendering their resignation to the Speaker on Friday .

The six disqualified Congress rebel MLAs had already moved the Supreme Court against their disqualification and the Election Commission of India has announced to hold by-polls in six Assembly constituencies along with Lok Sabha election in Himachal on June 1.

After joining the BJP, the six Congress rebel MLAs held the party leadership responsible for the current political crisis and expressed faith in the policies of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi.

Former CM and leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the decision of nine MLAs to join the BJP.