Congress expels 39 rebels in Madhya Pradesh

Two former MLAs were among 39 dissidents expelled from Congress in poll-bound MP on Friday as part of a crackdown on dissidence ordered by state chief Kamal Nath. The expelled members, including ex-MLAs Prem Chand Guddu and Antar Darbar, are contesting seats as Independents or on tickets offered by other parties, including miffed INDIA ally SP.

Two of the expelled faces, Kuldeep Singh Sikarwar and Pradyumn Verma, are contesting the Sumawali and Pohri seats respectively on BSP tickets. RR Bansal has filed his nomination for Jatara.