City Council candidate Raj Patel said his decision to resign as the University of Iowa Student Governments liaison to the council was not one he made independently.

Patel wrote a letter to the Iowa City City Council on Sept. 13, announcing his resignation.

"I think it is in my best interest moving forward to commit entirely to my current campaign and I look forward to serving the interests of the entire Iowa City community," Patel said in the letter.

Controversy followed Patel’s decision to step down, as some speculated the decision was pushed by the university.

"It is with regret though that I was not able to make this decision on my own, but I can rest easy knowing that I gave 110 percent towards ensuring that students were represented to the best of my ability on the city council," Patel said.

— by Asmaa Elkeurti