The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday expelled former farm minister Hosei Norota and punished 49 other lawmakers for voting against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills in July.

Norota's expulsion came a week after the LDP kicked out nine other party rebels who had formed two new parties before the Sept. 11 general election. Koizumi called the snap general election when his postal privatization bills were voted down by the House of Councilors on Aug. 8, leading the LDP to a landslide victory.

The LDP waited until Friday to punish the group of 50.