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Beijing (CNN) -- Chinese authorities have stripped disgraced former leader Bo Xilai of his legislative membership, his last official title, paving the way for criminal prosecution of a once rising political star whose spectacular fall has thrown the ruling Communist Party into its biggest crisis in decades.

The People's Congress of Chongqing, a southwestern metropolis governed by Bo until early this year, has removed his national delegate status, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported Friday.

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The announcement comes ahead of the 18th Party Congress in Beijing next month that will set out who will occupy the top positions in the party hierarchy, part of a once-in-decade leadership transition.

Bo was expelled from the Communist Party and the government last month, after being stripped of leadership positions in April.

He once was considered a top contender for the Politburo Standing Committee, the team of nine politicians who effectively rule China, but the news report on his expulsion last month, based on a party investigation, painted a portrait of corruption, abuse of power and improper sexual relationships.

Investigators determined that his behavior tarnished the party's reputation, Xinhua reported, and discovered "clues to his suspected involvement in other crimes." The party investigators have sent their conclusions to judicial authorities.

The report said Bo made "severe mistakes" related to the killing of a British businessman -- a crime for which his wife was imprisoned -- and a diplomatic incident involving his former police chief in Chongqing, Xinhua said.

It also cited influence peddling, bribery and womanizing as details found in the course of the party's investigation.

Bo is a charismatic, albeit controversial, politician who launched a "smashing black, singing red" campaign in the southwestern city of Chongqing that promoted Communist ideology and zealously cracked down on organized crime.

His economic programs, which included millions spent on social welfare, made him a popular leader in Chongqing. But analysts say his populist policies and high-profile personal style were seen as a challenge to the more economically liberal and reform-oriented faction that dominates the current party leadership.

Bo's fortunes changed when the dramatic scandal involving him and his inner circle began to seep into the public realm. His wife, Gu Kailai, and family aide Zhang Xiaojun were arrested in early April, suspected of poisoning British businessman Neil Heywood.

Heywood died in November in Chongqing, where Bo was the Communist Party chief. His death was originally blamed on excessive alcohol consumption.

Bo was soon stripped of his top posts for "serious breach of discipline." In August, his wife received a suspended death sentence after a seven-hour trial. Days later, four senior Chongqing police officers were also sentenced to jail for covering up the murder.

Wang Lijun, the former police chief of Chongqing, set off the Bo story on February 6, when he fled to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and told American diplomats that Gu was a suspected accomplice in a murder case.

After his request for asylum was turned down, Wang left the consulate and was taken away by Chinese officials. But his accusations rocked the world's most populous nation.

Wang was sentenced to 15 years in prison last month for defection, coverup, bribe taking and abuse of power.

The party expelled Bo after an investigation of the killing and Wang's visit to the consulate, a trip made "without permission," Xinhua said.

The investigators said Bo "bore major responsibility" in the Wang incident and the killing, Xinhua reported.