In a major boost to the Congress in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha election, former Union communications minister, Sukhram, on Monday announced the merger of his Himachal Vikas Congress with it.

"I, as president of Himachal Vikas Congress, have decided to merge the party with the Indian National Congress,"

Sukhram told reporters at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi.

Welcoming him into the party fold, Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said it was a 'homecoming' for the former minister.

Sukhram said he would not hold any post in the party till he was cleared in the ongoing corruption cases against him.