Congress expels 13 rebel members in Assam

The Congress has expelled 13 members in Assam, including a sitting MLA, who had filed their nominations as independents following denial of party tickets to them for the forthcoming assembly polls.

The rebels have been expelled for six years for anti-party activities; Assam Pradesh Congress committee media cell chairman I P Hazarika said in Guwahati on Monday.

Those expelled include Karimganj MLA Siddique Ahmed, controversial party MP and lottery baron Mani Kumar Subba's brother Sanjay Raj Subba contesting from Naoboicha, Samsul Islam from Hailakandi, Kaliram Deka (Morigaon), Swapan Kumar (Lumding), Tusheswar Neog (Golaghat), Osiram Doley (Majuli), Umesh Gogoi (Thowra), Samujjal Prasad Barua (Sonari), Nilosh Hazarika (Bihpuria), Paramananda Doley (Chabua), Durgeshwar Tanti (Dhemaji) and Pradeep Buragohain (Nahorkotia).

Hazarika said the party would not tolerate any anti-party activities and had therefore decided to expel members who were contesting as independents.