The 71-year-old veteran was known to be Congress’ backroom poll strategist, consensus-builder and troubleshooter. Party leaders say his political astuteness was unparalleled.
Ahmed Patel was one of the closest aides of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and was her political adviser. He had often steered the party out of difficult situations. He was 71.
The senior Congress leader had announced that he tested positive for Covid-19 on 1 October. He has now been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
Congress leader Ahmed Patel says news debates have been reduced to a ‘poisonous fatal activity’, but BJP’s Sudhanshu Mittal says Congress is also guilty of toxic TV debates.
Ramachandra Guha had tweeted a 1939 quote by Spratt that drew criticism from Finance Minister Sitharaman, Gujarat CM Rupani and Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
The recent resignations of its seniormost judges are among the most pointed institutional protests Pakistan has witnessed since the lawyers’ movement of the late 2000s.
Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.
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