Thirteen of the 17 MLAs whose rebellion brought down the Janata Dal Secular-Congress government in Karnataka in July, paving the way for the BJP's takeover, will contest the assembly by-polls as BJP candidates. The ruling party named them on Thursday as its candidates for the December5 by-polls.

The by-polls are being held in 15 seats left vacant by the disqualification of the JDS and Congress MLAs whose exodus plunged the previous HD Kumaraswamy government into a minority.

The JDS and Congress rebels who will contest from their seats as BJP candidates this time are: Mahesh Kumatalli, Srimanthagouda Patil,Ramesh Jarakiholi, Shivaram Hebbar, BC Patil, Anand Singh, K Sudhakar,Bhairathi Basavaraj, ST Somashekar, K Gopalaiah, MTB Nagaraj, KC Narayanagowdaand H Vishwanath.

The disqualification was confirmed by the Supreme Courtyesterday, but former Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's order banning the MLAs fromcontesting polls till 2023 - the term of the current assembly - was cancelled.Soonafter the court's decision, the MLAs said they would join the BJP, and this wasendorsed by Chief Minister Yediyurappa.

"It is because of the sacrifice of these 17 Congress-JDS legislators and their resignation as MLAs, some even as ministers, that Ihave been able to take oath as Chief Minister," Mr Yediyurappa said onThursday, welcoming the rebels into his party.

"As the Chief Minister along with the party president,I would like to assure you that we will keep up the promise made to you word toword and won't betray you," said a grateful Chief Minister.Fourteen of therebels were from the Congress and three from the JDS. They were disqualified asthey refused to attend the assembly despite entreaties by the Congress and JDS,which finally lost a trust vote.The BJP is confident of winning a majority ofthe 15 constituencies where bypolls will be held."We will hundred per centwin 15 out of 15 seats, let there be no doubt, I want to assure this to thosejoining the party...My greetings to former MLAs, who are also the future

MLAs and Ministers," said Mr Yediyurappa.

The BJP, which has 106 MLAs, will need to win at least sixout of those 15 seats to remain in power. The JDS and Congress have 101 membersin the 224-member assembly, where 113 is the majority mark.