BJP expels 11 leaders in Punjab ahead of civic polls

Eleven leaders have been shown the door for anti-party activities, according to a BJP release here.

Those who have been expelled from the party include Vipul Mehra of Ward no 8, Nitu Mahajan and Pappu Mahajan of Ward no 9, Arun Puppal of ward no 46 and Manju Puppal of Ward no 47 in Amritsar.

State BJP chief Ashwani Sharma also expelled Amar Chand Dabbi of Ward No 34 from the party for contesting as independent against official candidates of BJP in Patiala Municipal Corporation.

Sharma has warned that any BJP worker found campaigning against the party contestants would also be expelled from the BJP.

BJP is part of the ruling alliance in Punjab with SAD.

With opposition Congress also facing the problem of rebels in the civic polls, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh had yesterday appealed to all the party workers contesting against the official candidates in Municipal Corporation elections in Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar to withdraw lest the party is forced to take strict action against them.