Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K Muraleedharan has resigned.

In a letter to party president Sonia Gandhi, Muraleedharan has urged her to relieve him of the responsibilities on April 8, a day after the Kerala raksha yatra campaign led by United Democratic Front convener Oommen Chandy concludes at Kasargode, sources said.

The high command's choice of former KPCC president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and AICC general secretary Vayalar Ravi as a 'compromise candidate' for the election to the Rajya Sabha appeared to have prompted the resignation.

The high command chose Pillai overruling Muraleedharan's suggestion of P C Chacko. K Karunakaran, who wanted one of the seats for his nominee, had opposed Chacko's candidature.

Muraleedharan had pressed for Chacko's candidature after the KPCC election committee authorised him and Chief Minister A K Antony to make recommendations to the high command.