Ahmedabad (PTI): Surendranagar BJP MP Soma Patel, suspended by the party, has resigned from his seat as he is going to contest Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket.

"I have resigned from the Parliament as Congress high command has confirmed my ticket from my constituency in Gujarat," Mr. Patel told PTI.

He said since he had not won BJP ticket and is now going to contest the polls on Congress ticket, he had to resign as MP as per the provision of the law.

Mr. Patel, who was elected on BJP ticket in 2004 polls, was suspended by the party after Gujarat Assembly polls in 2007 because he had actively worked against the party and had supported Congress.

Congress had fielded his son Jagdish Patel from Viramgam Assembly segment. Subsequently, Mr. Patel had also voted in favour of Congress during crucial vote of confidence in the Parliament, when the Left parties had withdrawn their support to the UPA government on Indo-US nuclear deal issue.

It may be noted that BJP has fielded Laji Mer for Surendranagar seat. Mr. Mer is formerlya Congressman, who had unsuccessfully contested Assembly polls on Congress ticket in 2002 Assembly elections. He joined BJP a few months back.