Ranchi, Aug 8 - With assembly elections likely in a few months, several politicians in Jharkhand are busy switching loyalties, hoping to get a ticket.

The state, which is under president's rule since Jan 19, is likely to have assembly polls in October-November. So far, seven politicians who are either former ministers or legislators of the present assembly have switched parties.

On Friday, three legislators joined the Congress in New Delhi in the presence of state party in-charge Kesav Rao and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes. The three are Radha Krishan Kishore of Janata Dal-United (JD-U), former deputy chief minister and independent legislator Stephen Marandi and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Chunna Singh.

Rabindra Singh, state Congress spokesperson, told IANS: 'The Congress will be strengthened with the three leaders joining us.'

The Congress claims that around a dozen leaders of different political parties are in touch with Kesav Rao and other Congress leaders in order to join the party.