The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Friday suspended 23 rebels, including a former state minister and former Member of Parliament, who have entered the fray for the October 13 Maharashtra assembly elections.
The rebel candidates have been placed under suspension for six years for anti-party activities, NCP sources said.
Those suspended include former minister Dilip Sopal from Barshi and ex-Lok Sabha member Devidas Pingle from Nashik.
As per seat-sharing deal with the Congress, the NCP is contesting 114 of the 288 assembly seats in the state.