Patna, Mar 27 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), part of the ruling combine in Bihar, on Wednesday asked two senior party leaders who had filed nomination papers as Independent to pull out.

BJP state vice-president Devesh Kumar in a letter asked former MP Putul Kumari and MLC Ashok Agrawal to withdraw their nomination papers that they had filed from Banka and Katihar Lok Sabha seats, respectively.

The BJP warned both that if they don't withdraw their nomination papers, the party would take action against them. The party also asked them to support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates.

Putul, wife of former Janata Dal (United) MP and former Union Minister Digvijay Singh, filed her nomination papers from the Banka seat as Independent after the seat went to the JD-U under the NDA seat-sharing pact.

According to BJP sources, Putul was keen to contest from Banka, a traditional seat of her late husband.

Similarly, Ashok, a popular BJP leader in Katihar, filed nomination papers as Independent after the seat went to the JD-U under the NDA seat-sharing formula.