Congress expels rebel candidate Kartinder Pal Singh

Punjab Congress today permanently expelled Kartinder Pal Singh, the rebel candidate from Gill (SC) Assembly seat, from its primary membership, as the party continued with its crackdown on dissidents.
An office order, signed by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, said Kartinder "is hereby permanently expelled from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities and contesting from Assembly constituency Gill (SC) against the official party candidate."
Kartinder is the 18th rebel candidate to be expelled by Congress for refusing to withdraw from the electoral race in favour of official party nominees in different Assembly segments of the state.
Congress leadership has decided to take strict disciplinary action against those refusing to toe the party line with regard to contesting Assembly polls in Punjab, while continuing with its efforts to amicably persuade the rebels, some of whom have acceded to Amarinder's personal request in the matter.

The state Congress chief has assured all rebels, agreeing to leave the poll fray, that they would be accommodated in key positions after the party forms government in Punjab.