Parties act tough; rebels expelled

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 8 (UNI) Acting tough against the rebels in the election fray, The Congress, Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) and the Kerala Congress(M) today expelled their members for contesting against official candidates in the Assembly elections.

The Congress expelled Pradesh Congress Committee executive member T Saratchandra Prasad and eight-time Congress MLA K K Nair as they refused to withdraw from the contest.

Both the leaders refused to withdraw their nominations yesterday, the last day of withdrawal of papers, even after the Congress leadership's efforts.

Mr Prasad is contesting in Thiruvananthapuram West, where he is pitted against Congress ally Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) candidate Shobana George. Mr Nair will take on Mr K Sivadasan Nair, the official Congress candidate, at Pathanamthitta. Meanwhile the Kerala Congress(M) expelled Mr Sam Eapen from the party for contesting in Thiruvalla against its candidate Victor T Thomas. Mr Eapen had decided to contest the polls after the sitting KC(M) candidate Elizabeth Mammen Mathai was refused ticket.

The DIC(K) also expelled three rebels. Mr S Anil Kumar who filed his nominations from Vamanapuram, H P Shaji (Kazhakuttam) and K P Shoukat (Kanjirapally) were expelled from the party after they continued to be in the fray.

UNI PN1900