Hyderabad, Apr 7 : The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday expelled 40 rebels for six years, after they filed their nomination papers as independents for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.

APCC General Secretary Anand Bhaskar said these 40 rebel candidates have been expelled with immediate affect.

In a statement, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Dharmapuri Srinivas said the party took a decision to expel them, as they did not pay attention to the several appeals made by the party brass, including Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Sitting Congress legislators Jalagam Vengal Rao and Kumbha Ravi Babu are among the 40 rebels who have been expelled.

The elections are scheduled to be held on April 16 and April 23. (ANI)