Contest by 'rebel' candidates in the March 31 union parishad elections has become a matter of concern among the local Awami League (AL) leadership in 10 unions of Bhuapur and Gopalpur upazilas under the district.

BNP, on the other hand, has been able to nominate single candidates in all 13 unions under the two upazilas and it gives them a certain advantage in the polls race, said party sources and local observers.

The AL has already expelled nine activists in four unions of Gopalpur upazila as they are contesting against the party nominated candidates, said Mohammad Halimuzzaman Talukder, president of Gopalpur upazila unit of AL.

The expelled are Abdul Hye (Dhopakandi union), Abdul Kader, Aminul Islam, Hossain Mohammad and Mostofa Liton ((Hadira union), Mizanur Rahman and Shamsul Islam (Jhaoil union), Julfiqar Ali and Rawshan Khan Ayub (Hemnagar union), he said.

In six unions of Bhuapur upazila, eleven AL men are contesting as 'rebel' candidates but no organisational step has been taken against them so far, said a top leader of Bhuapur upazila AL, seeking anonymity.

Fifty-three people are in the race for chairman posts in six unions of Bhuapur and seven unions of Gopalpur.

Sixty-two people had submitted nomination papers but nine of them later withdrew candidature.