"Keshubhai Patel is a veteran and very respected leader. He has resigned from the party. We will persuade him not to take any such step in the interest of the nation and the party. We will meet him and convince him," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
Patel announced his resignation in Ahmedabad today along with another veteran BJP leader Kanshiram Rana. He is likely to announce the launch of a new party tomorrow.
Though Patel is not likely to cause much damage to BJP's electoral prospects in coming assembly polls, his main target is Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Sources said Patel is not likely to stray from BJP ideology and will focus attack on Modi.