The party had previously expelled 59 members for running against the partyÕs wishes in the first phase of the Upazila polls

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 61 party members for participating in the second phase of the Upazila council polls.

A press release signed by the partyÕs Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has informed this on Saturday.

It said that as per the BNPÕs constitution, the party leaders, who are contesting for the posts of chairman and vice chairman (male or female) in the second phase of the Upazila Parishad election to be held on May 21, have been dismissed from all positions, including their membership in the BNP.

The expelled, include 26 candidates running for the post of chairman, 19 contesting the post of vice-chairman, and 16 competing for the post of female vice chair.

Meanwhile, BNP had previously expelled 59 members as they decided to contest the first phase of the Upazila polls.