Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress leader and MLC S.R. Patil has resigned from the post of KPCC Working President. The senior Congressman has confirmed that he submitted his resignation to Rahul Gandhi on May 25 taking moral responsibility for the party’s abysmal performance in the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly elections.

Shivanagowda Rudragowda Patil (S.R. Patil), a Lingayat MLC, is a law graduate. He had served as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council during the previous BJP Government.

“I was in-charge of the party’s performance in North Karnataka. Had my party won more seats from there, we would have formed the government independently. I resigned taking up moral responsibility for our losses. I sent my resignation via email to party President,” Patil told reporters.

While Patil claims that he submitted his resignation on May 25, the development has come to light only now at a time when senior leaders of the Congress are expressing disgruntlement over not being considered for Ministry of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.

The party high command is yet to respond to Patil’s resignation. Patil was instrumental in gathering support for former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to contest from Badami seat along with Chamundeshwari. Siddharamaiah lost the Chamundeshwari seat while he won with a thin margin in Badami. Siddharamaiah was also lobbying for Patil to be appointed as the KPCC chief after current President Dr G. Parameshwara was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister.