Uttarakhand rebel Congress MLAs join BJP

Nine rebel Congress MLAs from Uttarakhand joined the BJP in Delhi on Wednesday. These MLAs had revolted against Chief Minister Harish Rawat last month resulting in President’s rule in that State and a Supreme Court-supervised test of strength in the Assembly.

Former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, and former minister Harak Singh Rawat are prominent among those who shifted allegiance. Rekha Arya, another Congress MLA who crossed over to the BJP on the eve of the test of strength in the Assembly did not join the party on Wednesday but has consented to do so at a later date, sources said.

BJP chief Amit Shah and senior office-bearers of the party met in the afternoon to endorse the induction. Sources said local BJP leaders were hesitant about these rebels being accommodated but that Mr. Shah seemed to have addressed some of those concerns.

“It is a fact that Mr. Rawat has got an upper hand, but it is also a fact that these nine rebel MLAs need to be accommodated,” said a source in the party.

Mr. Bahuguna said that he was “inspired by the leadership of PM Modi.” “I have not joined the party for personal gain,” he said in the presence of BJP vice-president Shyam Jaju.