- Breathed his last on Wednesday Morning
- Succumbed to post-Covid complications
New Delhi: Senior congress leader Ahmed Patel (71) passed away in the early hours of Wednesday (around 3.30am) at a Delhi hospital due to multiple organ failure. This was announced by his son on Twitter which reads” After testing positive for Covid-19 around a month back, his health worsened further due to multiple organ failures”.
Ahmed Patel, one of Sonia Gandhi’s closest advisers, was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram on Nov 15th. Ahmed Patel’s son Faisal requested well wishers to avoid mass gatherings to mourn his father’s demise, adhering to Covid guidelines.
Ahmed Patel, an eight-time Parliamentarian started his political career in 1976 in Gujarat and was first picked up in 1985 by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as Parliamentary secretary. From then on, he has been active in party affairs. He was called ‘trouble shooter’. He was successful in coordinating Congress with other opposition parties. He will be remembered for his key role in setting up the Narmada Management Authority (NMA) to oversee the construction of Sardar Sarovar Project.
Ahmed Patel was 3-time Lok Sabha MP and 5-time Rajya Sabha MP and can be termed as a non-Gandhi who ruled the Congress party by maintaining a low key profile. He was well known for solving issues within the party and in building alliances with major parties like NCP, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP, JMM, and he was successful to an extent in halting horse-trading in Karnataka politics.
He was instrumental in bringing UPA into power in 2004 and 09. He was appointed a treasurer for Congress party in 2018. He belongs to Bharuch in Gujarat and called ‘Babu’ by his friends and contemporaries. The veteran Congress leader is no more but his services for party will be remembered for a long time.
On the demise of Ahmed Patel, Rahul Gandhi came on twitter saying” Ahmed Patel was a pillar for the party who stood with the party during tough times.”
Sonia Gandhi said she had lost “an irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Patel saying, “His role in strengthening the Congress party would always be remembered.” “Saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel Ji. He spent years in public life serving society. Known for his sharp mind, his role in strengthening the Congress party would always be remembered. Spoke to his son Faisal and expressed condolences. May Ahmed Bhai’s soul rest in peace,” Modi tweeted.
