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Secrets will journey with me to my grave. That was Congress chief Ahmed Patel’s matter-of-fact response just a few months in the past when requested if he would pen his memoirs to share his experiences because the occasion insider with a finger on its energy buttons. Patel, who died on Wednesday at a Gurugram hospital the place he was admitted with COVID-19, may have been the tell-all chief providing insights and knowledge together with his inside view of the workings of the Congress and the political world. But he would have none of it.
Author and journalist Rasheed Kidwai met the Congress’ trusted backroom strategist and troubleshooter at his 23, Mother Teresa Crescent residence after the lockdown and requested him the query on many a thoughts. We had a freewheeling chat concerning the Congress and politics, and I requested him why do not you pen your memoirs as it is going to be a treasure trove of knowledge to which he responded, The secrets and techniques will journey with me to my grave’,” Kidwai said.
Kidwai who has authored several books, including 24 Akbar Road: A Short History Of The People Behind The Fall And Rise Of The Congress, added that Patel had gone too soon. Kidwai described Patel — Rajya Sabha MP, AICC treasurer and Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary as the man for all seasons for the Congress. He said Patel, both crisis manager and consensus builder, was never one to hold any grudges, citing how he stitched an alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra despite the party making grave allegations against him in the past.
He was also a devout Muslim and interestingly would switch mosques every week for Friday prayers because Congress ticket seekers would queue up outside if he went to one mosque regularly. Babubhai and AP to friends and Ahmed Bhai to colleagues, Patel remained Sonia Gandhi’s most trusted lieutenant for most of her tenure as the longest serving Congress president, standing by her side through sun and shade.
Sonia Gandhi said she has lost an “irreplaceable comrade, a devoted colleague and a pal”. According to political analysts, Patel was privy to innumerable party secrets, anecdotes and internal decision making.
Patel, who kept a low profile, was the quintessential organisation man who had an unflappable temperament and was a very effective crisis manager and troubleshooter, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said as tributes for the veteran politician and eight-term MP flowed in. Patel’s importance in the Congress dates back to the days of the late Rajiv Gandhi. When Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister, he did away with the post of principal secretary to the PM which his mother Indira Gandhi had created for PN Haksar and appointed three parliamentary secretaries — Ahmed Patel, Arun Singh and Oscar Fernandes. The trio — a photograph of them taking oath as parliamentary secretaries did the rounds on social media on Wednesday — was famously referred to as Amar, Akbar, Anthony’.
Just three months in the past, in August, Patel had stepped in to quell a riot. His agency rejection of the general public stand taken by 23 occasion leaders towards Sonia Gandhi helped the Congress Working Committee snub the demand for alternative of a Gandhi as occasion chief and repose religion in her presidency after she provided to stop.
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