As Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, Ahmed Patel was known to wield immense power in the United Progressive Alliance dispensation. Not only did he handle key organisational matters, he was also privy to important decisions, was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with Congress partners, and served as a bridge between the party and the government.
Despite his undeniable clout, Patel chose to remain below the radar. Described variously as low-key and the party’s backroom boy, he always shunned publicity and avoided the press. He never faced television cameras and barely took the floor in parliamentary debates or participated in public meetings.
But Patel has gone through a metamorphosis in the past few months.
For somebody who went out of his way to maintain a low-profile, Patel has suddenly become more vocal and visible. He is active on Twitter, has addressed two rallies at Jantar Mantar against the National Democratic Alliance government’s land acquisition bill in recent weeks and has also been heard in the Rajya Sabha. In addition, Patel has become more media savvy. Press persons now regularly receive information about Patel’s speeches and tweets.
The soft-spoken Patel, who hails from Gujarat, has been vociferous in slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an unusual step, he was quick to react to Modi’s radio programme “Mann ki Baat” last Sunday on the land bill and farmers’ issues. Hitting out at the prime minister, a belligerent Patel accused Modi of doing a somersault on issues related to farmers.
“Around one year back in an election rally in Hazaribagh, the then PM candidate had distorted Shastriji’s slogan to Mar Jawan Mar Kisan,” Patel said in a statement. “This was done just to get votes. He had also promised 50% hike in the Minimum Support Price for farmers if voted to power. But in a reply to my question in Parliament, his government has rejected this proposal.”
“More farmers are committing suicide today and jawans are being killed by terrorists,” he added. “This is not a U-turn but a somersault. What does PM have to say about this Mann Ki Baat?”
Equation with Modi
In fiery speeches at public rallies, Patel took a swipe at Modi, saying angry farmers could “reduce his 56-inch chest to 28 inches”. In Parliament, Patel drew attention to the dip in the government procurement price of paddy and cotton and highlighted the “acute shortage” of urea across the country.
“The Prime Minister talks about land health card,” Patel said in the Rajya Sabha. “When there is no urea, how is it going to help?”
The sudden change in Ahmed Patel’s persona has not gone unnoticed in the Congress. In fact, it is the subject of animated discussions in the party, with leaders giving different reasons for his recent proactive approach. Patel himself dismisses questions in this regard, saying he has always been this active whenever the Congress has been in the opposition.
Congress insiders admit that when the party was in power, Patel’s critical role required him to keep low. After all, he was described as the man who knew too much. “He was privy to crucial inside information,” remarked a former Congress minister, “and for that reason, he had to be extremely discreet.”
Now that he is free of that burden, Patel can afford to speak out, which is precisely what he is doing. In the process, he is also dispelling the perception that he enjoys a good rapport with Modi. It is often murmured in both Congress and BJP circles that Modi and Patel are close, although it has been vehemently denied by the Congress leader.
Churning in the party
While this may be one reason for the new role adopted by Patel, it is no coincidence that it comes at a time when the Congress is going through a process of transition when its vice-president Rahul Gandhi is expected to take over as party chief. It is also no secret that the Nehru-Gandhi scion will choose his own team, including a political secretary, when he takes over as Congress president. In any case, party insiders maintain, it would not be fair for Patel to continue in that position under Rahul Gandhi.
Patel is well aware of this reality. He is clearly preparing for a change of guard by repositioning himself for a new role in the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress. And his new avatar is aimed at that. More importantly, Patel is trying to shed his image as a backroom boy with no mass base and emerge as a leader.
While there is all-round agreement that Patel will not find a place in Team Rahul, there is also an overwhelming view that the party cannot jettison Patel, given the pivotal role he has played in the organisation and the UPA government and his long association with the Gandhi family. “The Congress cannot afford to do without Ahmed Patel in view of his understanding of the party organisation and the information he has been privy to,” remarked a senior Congress leader.
Patel has held a position in the party since 1985, having started as party joint secretary with Rajiv Gandhi when he was Congress general secretary. He subsequently became parliamentary secretary when Rajiv Gandhi took over as prime minister. He was by Sonia Gandhi’s side when she took over the reins of the party in 1998, playing a key role as she went about rebuilding the party organisation.
Patel has always had a ringside view of events and developments in the Congress during the past several decades. The question is: will this change when Rahul Gandhi assumes charge of the party?
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Despite his undeniable clout, Patel chose to remain below the radar. Described variously as low-key and the party’s backroom boy, he always shunned publicity and avoided the press. He never faced television cameras and barely took the floor in parliamentary debates or participated in public meetings.
But Patel has gone through a metamorphosis in the past few months.
For somebody who went out of his way to maintain a low-profile, Patel has suddenly become more vocal and visible. He is active on Twitter, has addressed two rallies at Jantar Mantar against the National Democratic Alliance government’s land acquisition bill in recent weeks and has also been heard in the Rajya Sabha. In addition, Patel has become more media savvy. Press persons now regularly receive information about Patel’s speeches and tweets.
The soft-spoken Patel, who hails from Gujarat, has been vociferous in slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an unusual step, he was quick to react to Modi’s radio programme “Mann ki Baat” last Sunday on the land bill and farmers’ issues. Hitting out at the prime minister, a belligerent Patel accused Modi of doing a somersault on issues related to farmers.
“Around one year back in an election rally in Hazaribagh, the then PM candidate had distorted Shastriji’s slogan to Mar Jawan Mar Kisan,” Patel said in a statement. “This was done just to get votes. He had also promised 50% hike in the Minimum Support Price for farmers if voted to power. But in a reply to my question in Parliament, his government has rejected this proposal.”
“More farmers are committing suicide today and jawans are being killed by terrorists,” he added. “This is not a U-turn but a somersault. What does PM have to say about this Mann Ki Baat?”
Equation with Modi
In fiery speeches at public rallies, Patel took a swipe at Modi, saying angry farmers could “reduce his 56-inch chest to 28 inches”. In Parliament, Patel drew attention to the dip in the government procurement price of paddy and cotton and highlighted the “acute shortage” of urea across the country.
“The Prime Minister talks about land health card,” Patel said in the Rajya Sabha. “When there is no urea, how is it going to help?”
The sudden change in Ahmed Patel’s persona has not gone unnoticed in the Congress. In fact, it is the subject of animated discussions in the party, with leaders giving different reasons for his recent proactive approach. Patel himself dismisses questions in this regard, saying he has always been this active whenever the Congress has been in the opposition.
Congress insiders admit that when the party was in power, Patel’s critical role required him to keep low. After all, he was described as the man who knew too much. “He was privy to crucial inside information,” remarked a former Congress minister, “and for that reason, he had to be extremely discreet.”
Now that he is free of that burden, Patel can afford to speak out, which is precisely what he is doing. In the process, he is also dispelling the perception that he enjoys a good rapport with Modi. It is often murmured in both Congress and BJP circles that Modi and Patel are close, although it has been vehemently denied by the Congress leader.
Churning in the party
While this may be one reason for the new role adopted by Patel, it is no coincidence that it comes at a time when the Congress is going through a process of transition when its vice-president Rahul Gandhi is expected to take over as party chief. It is also no secret that the Nehru-Gandhi scion will choose his own team, including a political secretary, when he takes over as Congress president. In any case, party insiders maintain, it would not be fair for Patel to continue in that position under Rahul Gandhi.
Patel is well aware of this reality. He is clearly preparing for a change of guard by repositioning himself for a new role in the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress. And his new avatar is aimed at that. More importantly, Patel is trying to shed his image as a backroom boy with no mass base and emerge as a leader.
While there is all-round agreement that Patel will not find a place in Team Rahul, there is also an overwhelming view that the party cannot jettison Patel, given the pivotal role he has played in the organisation and the UPA government and his long association with the Gandhi family. “The Congress cannot afford to do without Ahmed Patel in view of his understanding of the party organisation and the information he has been privy to,” remarked a senior Congress leader.
Patel has held a position in the party since 1985, having started as party joint secretary with Rajiv Gandhi when he was Congress general secretary. He subsequently became parliamentary secretary when Rajiv Gandhi took over as prime minister. He was by Sonia Gandhi’s side when she took over the reins of the party in 1998, playing a key role as she went about rebuilding the party organisation.
Patel has always had a ringside view of events and developments in the Congress during the past several decades. The question is: will this change when Rahul Gandhi assumes charge of the party?
