Punjab Cong expels 9 more dissidents after they did not

Sending out a strong message to those who fail to toe the party line, Punjab Congress today permanently expelled nine more dissidents from its primary membership after they did not withdraw from the Assembly poll race.
The nine rebels expelled are Naresh Puri, Tarlochan Singh Soond, Jasbir Singh Pal, Maninder Pal Singh Palasour, Avtar Singh Billa, Sukhraj Singh Natt, Darshan Singh Sidhu, Rajinder Kaur Meemsa and Jatinder Kaur Monga.
State party chief Amarinder Singh said they have been "expelled permanently from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities with immediate effect".
The latest action comes two days after a similar order expelling seven rebel candidates for life after they failed to retire in favour of the official Congress nominees even after the deadline given by Amarinder expired.

Amarinder had on Sunday issued a final ultimatum to the rebel candidates who continued to defy the party diktat to withdraw their candidature or retire from the poll fray. The rebels were given time till 5 p.M. On Tuesday to step down in favour of the Congress candidates in their respective constituencies.
While several rebel candidates had earlier been persuaded by the party leadership to take back their nominations before the last date given by the Election Commission, a handful of them remain defiant and did not withdraw their papers.

They were on Sunday given another 48 hours to leave the race for official Congress candidates.

Amarinder, who was today declared as party's chief ministerial face by Rahul Gandhi, said it was important to send out a strong message that the party would not tolerate such rebellion and those going against the high command's decision would have to pay for it.
He reiterated that the candidates selected for tickets by the party leadership were chosen for their winnability and those who had withdrawn in favour of the officially nominated candidates would be accommodated in key positions if the Congress forms the government in the state.