The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala [Images] on Monday decided to expel Nationalist Congress Party from the coalition in the wake of its merger with Karunakaran's Democratic Indira Congress.

The LDF unanimously decided not to have NCP in the front considering the "changed political climate" in that party after its merger with DIC-K on November 12, front convener Vaikom Viswan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

To a question, Viswan said the front was not likely to reconsider its decision in the near future.

The front took the decision to expel the NCP mainly on political grounds. The NCP had supported the LDF in the just concluded Thiruvambadi bypoll where LDF candidate George M Thomas won the seat by a slender margin of 246 votes.

The front had taken a decision not to associate with the DIC-K during the last general elections also, he pointed out.

In the May Assembly polls, DIC-K had joined hands with the United Democratic Front when LDF refused to include them in the front.

After the election, DIC-K again moved away from UDF and tried to become part of LDF. The NCP has two legislators in the Assembly after DIC-K's merger.