WASHINGTON (Reuters, AFP) - US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, who has repeatedly been challenged by the conservative wing of his Republican Party, told his rank and file he will resign from the top House job at the end of October, Representative John Mica told reporters on Friday.

"Speaker Boehner just announced in Conference that he will resign as Speaker and from Congress at the end of October," House Republican Bill Huizenga also said in a tweet.

US Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the No. 2 Republican in the House, is expected to be the top contender to replace Boehner as speaker, Republican Representative Peter King told reporters. Boehner, 65, was expected to speak to reporters about 10 am EDT (1400 GMT) about his resignation plan, CNN reported.

Boehner's departure will spark an intense battle for control of the House as the United States gears up for a presidential election in November 2016.