Milind Deora, the Mumbai Congress president, announced his resignation from the post on Sunday and said that he was looking forward to playing a role at the national level to help stabilize the party.

Deora recommended setting up of a provisional collective leadership comprising three senior Congress leaders to oversee the city party unit till the Maharashtra Assembly polls, which are due later this year.

An official statement on Sunday stated, "Taking on the BJP-Shiv Sena and negating the impact of Vanchit Aghadi is a challenge for the Congress in Maharashtra. Deora expressed his desire to quit shortly after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on June 26. The same has been conveyed to All India Congress Committee general secretaries Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal."

Meanwhile, Deora said political realities have changed since the Lok Sabha results.

"We all will have to get ready for roles that these times demand," he said.
It may be mentioned here that Deora was appointed the president of the Mumbai Congress on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year.

"I had accepted MRCC presidentship in the interest of uniting the party. I felt I should also resign after meeting Rahul Gandhi," he said.

"I have suggested a three-member panel (to oversee the city party unit) and am being consulted by leaders to identify names. I look forward to playing a national role to help stabilize the party. Needless to say, I will continue to guide and unite the Mumbai Congress," Deora said.

Deora contested the Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai-South constituency but lost to Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant.