Congress' Karnataka unit on Saturday expelled 20 rebels for six years who have entered the poll fray ignoring the party directive.
Prominent among those who faced the axe from the primary membership of the party included Venkatashiva Reddy from Srinivaspura Assembly constituency, who is, however, contesting as a BJP nominee.
Congress had denied him re-nomination and preferred former assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar, who defected from AIPJD.
Also expelled is Congress General Secretary H Anjaneya, who unsuccessfully contested Bharamasagar twice and has joined JD(U) to try his luck from this constituency. His supporters staged a protest yesterday when Chief Minister S M Krishna toured Chitradurga District.
While 13 candidates face disciplinary action for contesting as rebels against official candidates, seven others were expelled for entering the poll fray under the banner of other opposition parties, according to a KPCC release.