Trinamul leaders in several Bengal districts are spending more time to campaign against dissidents than taking on Opposition candidates as over 100 party rebels in 108 civic bodies going to polls on February 27 have decided to defy the party's ultimatum to quit the fray or be expelled.

“Our leaders in districts have expelled over 100 rebels (contesting the polls as Independents after not getting the Trinamul ticket) who defied the party ultimatum. But a large number of them are continuing with their campaign despite expulsion. Our leaders have been asked to treat them like Opposition candidates,” said a Trinamul leader.

Party leaders said the crisis before Trinamul was that most of them had been party councillors enjoying a good rapport with voters.

“The main challenge has become the popularity of the rebels among residents that would eat into the party’s vote bank. Taking on Opposition candidates is easier as we can counter them politically. Therefore, we have decided to invest in more time to counter the rebels,” said a Trinamul leader in Bankura, where the party has expelled 10 Independents.

The disciplinary committee of Trinamul on Thursday issued clear instructions to its leadership in the districts to expel those who stuck to their stand to contest polls after the 48-hour deadline. The deadline ended on Saturday.

The ultimatum came from Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee.

“District leaders had been warning the rebels from February 12 but the ultimatum came from the state leadership on Thursday. Till Saturday evening, the number of expulsions crossed 100,” said a source.

In Purulia, eight Trinamul rebels have been expelled for contesting civic polls in Purulia and Jhalda.

“As they did not opt out of the fray, we expelled them. Our leaders will explain to voters why they should not vote rebels. Voters are being told that the rebels are so selfish that they did not bother to listen to Mamata Banerjee,” said Soumen Belthoria, Trinamul’s Purulia district chief.

Many hoped victorious Independents would be taken back into the fold, even though Mamata has ruled it out.

“I was a Trinamul councillor and contested this time as an Independent. I am sure the party will take us back after the poll as we are followers of Didi,” said Debasish Chatterjee, an Independent contesting from ward 3 of Purulia.

In Malda, 14 such candidates have been removed from the party. In North Dinajpur , nine, including former councillors, were expelled in Islampur town.

Six persons have been expelled in Alipurduar and four in Cooch Behar district.

In Jalpaiguri district, no one has been expelled so far as a couple of dissidents, who had filed nominations, have declared that they were abstaining from the contest and have started campaigning for official candidates.

In Malda, four dissidents have handed over undertakings to the party that they were stepping down in support of official candidates of the party.

Additional reporting by Siliguri Bureau