BJP asks TDP to sack the rebel candidates

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today asked its alliance partner Telugu Desam Party(TDP) to cut all links with rebel candidates who have been in fray in three assembly constituencies allocated to it.

Despite the promise made by the TDP leadership that it would persuade its rebels to withdraw from the field, they were found to be in fray as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended today., according to a statement issued by the BJP . TDP rebels are contesting in Guntakal, Santhanutalapadu and Kadapa assembly segments out of a dozen-odd seats given to BJP in the Seemandhra region.

"As was promised we request TDP leadership to stop the financial assistance to these rebels and also suspend them from the party for violating the party discipline," Sudhish Rambhotla, chief spokesman of the party's Seemandhra committee said in a statement.