CHANDIGARH , June 13 — The political affairs committee of the ruling Shiromani Akal Dal (SAD) today expelled nine MLAs from the primary membership of the party for a period of six years.

The SAD spokesman , Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who briefed newspersons after the PAC meeting which was presided over by the party President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said the decision was “unanimous”.

Those expelled today are Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, Mr Baldev Singh Khiala and Mr Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwadi. Mr Ravi Inder Singh was under “suspension” since December 1999.

The party had earlier expelled the following four MLAs : Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira and Mrs Daljit Kaur.

With today’s action by the PAC the total number of MLAs who stand expelled from the primary membership of the party for their alleged “anti-party” activities comes to 13. The SAD had a strength of 75 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha following February 1997 Assembly elections. The figure is 62 now.

It may be mentioned here that a petition filed by some minister against at least 10 MLAs is already pending before the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal. The petition seeks their removal from the membership of the Vidhan Sabha. The case is yet to be decided by the Speaker.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the expulsion was the outcome of the report submitted by the party’s disciplinary action committee headed by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi. All the nine expelled today were served show cause notices and given time to file their replies. Their replies were examined and found “ not satisfactory”.

Consequently the PAC took the decision to expel the members. “The decision taken today is sad . It is a difficult to perform such a task when one has worked for long with such colleagues. But party discipline and interest always come first rather than personal emotions”, he added.

Among those who did not participate in the PAC meeting were the Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal and the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura. Those who did were: Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Mrs Upinderjit Kaur, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Inderpal Singh from Delhi, Mr S.S. Sekhwan and Mr Tota Singh.