BUCHAREST, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose announced his resignation late Monday, after the leadership of the ruling Social Democratic Party had voted to withdraw the political support for him.

"I am leaving with my head held high," Tudose said, mentioning that he will not be assuming the role of caretaker prime minister.

He said his schedule on Tuesday will be taken over by Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stanescu.

"The party decided another government is needed, with a different kind of approach... There is always room for better. I didn't want to break up the party," Tudose said when asked how he lost so fast the party's support.

The conflict between the prime minister and the ruling party chairman Liviu Dragnea has been well known recently, and Tudose's request for the resignation of the interior minister resulted in a showdown between the two.

Interior Minister Carmen Dan, considered a close ally of Dragnea, refused to resign after being accused of lying by the prime minister.

Tudose, who took office in June 2017, is the second head of government of the Social Democrats which won the parliamentary elections at the end of 2016. His predecessor Sorin Grindeanu lost power in a no-confidence vote brought by his own ruling party due to a conflict with the party leader.