New Delhi, Apr 12: In a major boost to Congress in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, former Union Communication Minister Sukhram today joined the party and announced 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 AICC headquarters here after joining the party. Welcoming him into the party fold, Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said it was a "homecoming" for the former minister as he had a long association with the party. Sukhram also announced he would not hold any post in the party till he was cleared in the ongoing corruption cases against him. Bureau Report