SILCHAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Assam Pradesh has taken disciplinary action against 16 party office-bearers in Cachar district for allegedly violating party discipline ahead of the Silchar Municipal Corporation election.

The action was taken by Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia with immediate effect. The party has suspended four members and expelled 12 others from its primary membership.

Those suspended are Sripiyush Chowdhury (Ward 31), Saptadeep Chakraborty alias Babu (Ward 14), Jayajyoti Dey (Ward 21) and Madhumita Pal (Ward 11).

The 12 members expelled from the party are Sridipu Sinha (Ward 2), Manika Mandal (Ward 4), Sandeep Dutta (Ward 6), Rathindra Nath Saha alias Madhava (Ward 11), Sangeeta Chakraborty (Ward 14), Nripendra Narayan Tagore (Ward 19), Manisha Dey (Ward 21), Rakhi Choudhury (Ward 31), Saheli Dev (Ward 38), Debashish Roy (Ward 39), Lord Shiva (Ward 40) and Anupama Das (Ward 10).

According to the party order, the action was taken for violation of party discipline and was made effective immediately.

The disciplinary action comes amid the BJP’s campaign for the first Silchar Municipal Corporation election. The BJP has fielded candidates in 38 of the 42 wards, while two of its candidates have already been elected unopposed.

The BJP had earlier warned members contesting as Independents against official party nominees that they could face disciplinary action.