Ahmed Patel remained in background, let others take credit — Sonia Gandhi writes in obituary

In an obituary in National Herald, Gandhi says ever since she became Congress interim chief, Patel was at her side as 'a most trusted colleague, as someone I could always turn to for advice’.

A file photo of Congress leader Ahmed Patel | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi remembered her long and trusted aide Ahmed Patel in an obituary published in National Herald Saturday, saying he was someone she could always “turn to for advice and counsel”.

In the obituary, titled ‘Farewell Ahmed’, Gandhi wrote that ever since she became the Congress interim chief, Patel was “at my side as a most trusted colleague… as someone who I could depend upon without any questions being asked, to do the right thing by the Congress Party”.

She further said that not only was he a troubleshooter and crisis-manager, but he was also her sounding board and confidant. 

Calling Patel the “quintessential organisational man”, Gandhi wrote: “He preferred to remain one even when the Congress was in power. Not for him public office, not any publicity, not for him any form of public recognition or applause. He worked quietly but effectively away from the public glare and spotlight. His style of working perhaps enhanced his value and effectiveness.”

Patel, who was the Congress treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, died on 25 November due to multiple organ failure.

Patel preferred to be in background and let others take credit 

Speaking more about her confidant and crisis-manager, Gandhi wrote Patel was one of “those rare individuals who preferred to remain in the background and let others take the credit.”

She wrote he was a man who gave himself totally to the party and its cause, and never exploited any of the positions he held for selfish purposes.

“He was a staunch believer in the values of the Constitution and our country’s secular heritage,” wrote Gandhi. 

She also explained that he was an integral part of the party who joined Congress under Indira Gandhi’s inspiration and was then given a larger role by former PM Rajiv Gandhi.

‘Congress needed him’

Gandhi said Patel was “calm, cool and collected under pressure”, and was a great “source of strength” to her, not only in her position as the Congress president but also as chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance. 

“His friendships and appeal cut across political parties and I am personally aware of how leaders of different parties saw him as someone they could trust and build relationships with,” wrote Gandhi. 

She said that when the history of the Congress is written, Patel’s name will figure as someone who was central to the party’s achievements.

“The Congress needed him. Indian politics and public life needed him. We needed him,” she concluded.