Senior Congress leader SR Patil has resigned as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president, taking moral responsibility for the party’s unsatisfactory performance in the recently concluded assembly elections. Patil had mailed his resignation letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on May 25. Rahul, who is currently abroad, is yet to reply to the letter.

“The Congress high command reposed faith in me and gave me responsibility to ensure victories in as many as constituencies in north Karnataka,” 69-year-old Patil told reporters at Hubballi airport on Sunday. “However, I could not ensure victory of the Congress candidates. Hence, I have decided resign.”