Shimla: Newly-elected BJP MLA from Sujanpur, Narender Thakur was on Tuesday sworn-in as the member of Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
Narender, who won Sujanpur bypoll, was administered oath by Speaker BBL Butail in his chamber in the presence of BJP leaders.
With the election of Narender, the strength of BJP in 68-member House has increased from 26 to 27.
The Sujanpur assembly seat was vacated by Independent MLA Rajender Singh Rana, who joined Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls and unsuccessfully contested the Lok sabha elections from Hamirpur Parliamentary constituency against BJP candidate Anurag Thakur.
Narender defeated Anita Rana, wife of Rajender Singh Rana who contested as Congress candidate by 538 votes.
Narender, son of BJP stalwart Jagdev Chand, had quit BJP in 2003 and fought Assembly elections against former BJP Chief Minister PK dhumal in 2009 and also fought the Lok Sabha elections from Hamirpur against Anurag Thakur.
However, he joined BJP few days before the elections and was given the ticket by the party from Sujanpur Assembly seat.
