Congress in Bihar has expelled 45 party leaders including former State Chief Ram Jatan Sinha for six years for contesting Assembly elections against official candidates of the party and grand alliance.

The decision to expel the leaders, was taken at a meeting of Congress Disciplinary Committee headed by former MLA Jagannath Prasad Rai at Patna last night.

The State Congress spokesperson H.K. Verma said those on whom the axe has fallen, included senior leaders like Raghunandan Manjhi, Sunita Devi and former State Youth Congress Chief Lallan Kumar.

Mr. Verma said a probe is on against some others for indulging in anti-party activities during the poll. As part of grand alliance, Congress contested 41 seats in just concluded Bihar Assembly elections out of which it won 27 seats.