India, Oct. 26 -- Patna: The ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar has expelled 16 leaders, including a sitting legislator and two former ministers, in a major crackdown on rebellion in the party ahead of the assembly elections. Most of these leaders have entered the poll fray against official National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates.

The JD(U) charged the rebel leaders with "anti-party activities" and violation of the party ideology and the expulsions were announced in two separate communications issued on late Saturday and on Sunday.

Among those who have been expelled is Narendra Niraj alias Gopal Mandal, the sitting MLA from Gopalpur in Bhagalpur district, who had recently staged a dharna in front of the chief minister's residence...