Congress leader B M Manguika who gained prominence as the lawyer of Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel, today resigned from the party ahead of the crucial local bodies polls in the state.
However, he did not reveal the reason behind quitting the party.
“I won’t make any comments,” Manguika said when he was asked about his resignation.
However, sources close to Manguika, a Patel leader, said that he has submitted his resignation to the Congress.
The party confirmed that the lawyer had given his resignation, but said that he will be persuaded to take it back.
“Manguika is a senior leader of the Congress party and has held many posts since last 25 years. He is at present head of the legal cell of the party. If he has any issues the party will sort it out with him,” Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.
Congress sources said that the party leadership is in talks with Manguika to persuade him to take back his resignation.
Manguika’s resignation just ahead of Gujarat local bodies polls will come as a setback for the party when it intends to win over Patel community votes after the quota agitation.
The BJP led Gujarat government is facing a tough local bodies election after the Patel quota agitation, as the community which had supported the party so far is searching for options as their demand for reservations are not met.
The Congress is hoping to cash in on this sentiment.
Elections in six municipal corporations of the state will be held on November 22 while 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities, will go for polls on November 29.
Most of these local bodies including all the six municipal corporations are at present held by the BJP.