New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) The Congress party Saturday expelled seven members, including three former legislators, for contesting the Delhi assembly elections against the party’s official candidates.“They have been expelled for six years for contesting against the official party candidates in the (Nov 29) assembly polls, violating discipline. They include three former MLAs and two councillors,” Delhi Congress president J.P. Aggarwal told reporters here.

Former legislators Roopchand, who is contesting against party candidate Balzor Singh in the Gokulpur constituency and Ram Singh Netaji, who filed his nomination against sitting MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from Badarpur, have been ousted from the party.

The party also expelled former legislator Veer Singh Bidhuri for contesting against official candidate Amod Kanth for the Sangam Vihar seat.

Bidhuri, denied a ticket by the party, has switched his loyalty to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The axe also fell on sitting councillors Satbir Singh and Dhuli Chand Lohia for defying the party.

Singh, a former mayor, is contesting from Mehrauli as an independent against Congress nominee and Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, while Lohia has filed his nomination as an NCP candidate against Dayachand Chandela from Rajouri Garden.

Delhi Congress vice president Ajit Singh Chadha and Laxman Das Bajaj, a party worker from Bhagwanpur Khera block, have also been expelled for contesting as independents from Tilak Nagar and Rohtas Nagar respectively.

“We wanted to send a strong message that anti-party activities will not be tolerated. Hence they have been expelled as per party norms,” Aggarwal added.