The ruling Nepali Congress has taken action against its 21 leaders and cadres including former State Minister and lawmaker Muthi Malla for betraying the party in the local level elections.

A meeting of local polls candidates, regional working committee members and office bearers of sister organisations held  on Tuesday to review the local elections expelled seven persons from general membership and sought clarification from 14 others.

The party on the recommendation of Discipline Department formed by the district party expelled lawmaker Malla, district secretary Janak Kumar Chand, district working committee member Bishnu Prakash Khada, election constituency-1 President Surat Jung Malla, Regional Representatives Shiva Lal Acharya, Tek Bahadur Pun and Bal Krishna Bhat from the general membership of the party.

Earlier on May 22, the party had sought clarification from 25 persons after they were accused of working against the party in the first phase of local level elections.

Among them, only four persons had furnished clarification and were given clean chit, said Discipline Department coordinator Bhim Bahadur Dangi.