From correspondents in Delhi, India, 06:32 AM IST

Defending former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, the Congress Wednesday said his expulsion from the state assembly was a result of a 'political vendetta' by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

'This is a political vendetta carried out by the SAD,' Congress general secretary Margaret Alva said here.

Amarinder Singh was expelled from the assembly for allegedly favouring a private party in the grant of a plot of prime land in Amritsar when he was the chief minister in 2002-07.

The expulsion came after an assembly committee recommended action against Amarinder Singh after holding him guilty of involvement in the land scam.

His Patiala assembly seat was declared vacant and the Election Commission will be approached to hold a by-election.

Alva said: 'In the past, people have shown that they tend to sympathise more with opposition leaders who are victimised by the ruling powers of the day.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)