New Delhi: In a major boost to Congress in Karnataka ahead of the elections, 16 sitting MLAs of the All India Progressive Janata Dal floated by late Ramakrishna Hegde today (Feb 18, 2004) joined the Congress saying they would strengthen secular forces to fight communal parties.

Welcoming them into the party fold in the presence of state PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Janardhan Poojary, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna told reporters that though the party was "quite capable of taking on communal forces" in the State, the joining of these leaders would further strengthen secular forces.

All the 16 MLA including Chowda Reddy, Umesh Katti, Hampana Gouda Badarli and A B Patil, who joined the party were present at the AICC (All India Congress Committee) headquarters in New Delhi where Krishna addressed a press conference.