In Ahmed Patel, Congress has lost an irreplaceable leader. He will be remembered for being one of the sharpest political minds and a leader who held his party together as a tough, unifying force. The ultimate problem solver and consensus builder whose political savvy was admired by all leaders across the spectrum.
While the upper echelons of Congress have spoken about the void Patel leaves, the younger generation remembers him as a tall leader from whom they could learn a lot.
“I was more comfortable behind the scenes. But he knew more people than anyone both within the party and in other political organizations. Leave a space that nobody can fill, ”said Congressman Karti Chidambaram.
“Ahmedji had many distinctive qualities. He used to build consensus on the most contentious issues. He always ensured unity within the party. He would encourage the youth, the party chairman referred to him as a close friend. He was a problem solver, always upright to help the party out of trouble, ”said the party’s Uttar Pradesh unit chairman Ajay Kumar Lallu.
“I remember when I was part of the selection committee for the Gujarat elections, the party chairman asked us to talk to the main leaders and consult them about the distribution of tickets. I can never forget what Ahmed Patel told us. He said: ‘I don’t have any candidate of my choice. But please share the list of those people you are not giving a ticket to. I will talk to them and make sure they work for the party in the elections. I will convey to you how much we value and need you. ” Basically, he made sure that even those who didn’t get the ticket knew how important they are to the party and he would make sure they worked the election. This is something big and it reveals his stature, ”said Lallu.
Working quietly to strengthen the party and keep the cadre motivated is something Patel was known for. The party’s leader, Jaiveer Shergill, shared a similar anecdote of how Patel spoke to him when he lost a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election.
“When I was denied a Lok Sabha ticket, he was the only leader who called me and took me to lunch as a show of support and affection and said ‘do not be discouraged, it is important to stay on board the train, compartments can change in any Right now, never make the mistake of getting down on the platform because of dejection, ‘”Shergill said.
It is perhaps this rare quality of interpersonal relationships that made Patel so palatable and attractive to all the leaders of the different factions within the party: the old guard and the new. “He was the glue that held everything together.”
“He was friends with a young leader, who understood his struggles, ambitions and disappointments. If I were to describe it as an institution, then it played a role in both grievance redress and ambition fulfillment forum. Their presence gave a sense of comfort and reassurance that if something ever goes wrong, Ahmedji is there to protect, “added Shergill.
Recalling Patel’s connection to youth within the party, Shergill spoke about experiencing Ahmedabad’s “nightlife” with him after a meeting of the Congressional Task Force.
“Once, during a CWC meeting in Ahmedabad, we finished work at 12 at night. When everyone was about to leave he said ‘wait let me show you the nightlife of Ahmedabad’ and he took us to a famous street food lane and said ‘this is my version of the party – there you can eat the best food and interact with the locals’. Also, during free time, he used to ask me about the latest apps, gadgets, and different places to eat kebabs, ”Shergill said.
Patel was known to be the backbone of the organization, nothing missed his attention. From the smallest decision to the most important, Patel was “in the loop” and involved. “The fact that he paid attention even to the student wing and showed us that he cared, made him a great leader,” said National Student Union of India (NSUI) president Neeraj Kundan.
“In December 2019, when NSUI workers were brutally accused of lathi by the police and many of us were arrested, he was the first leader to call us within 20 minutes of the incident. He asked us how we were doing and said, ‘I’m going to meet you and please let me know if I can get medical help for you.’ These kinds of things show how closely I used to monitor everything. That day I felt that my tutor had called me, ”Kundan said.
“His personal healing touch will always be missed. I lost a father figure and a mentor with his passing, ”said Rohan Gupta, head of social media for Congress.
“Loyalty and integrity are the cornerstones of his many teachings that I have held in my heart. His disappearance is a great loss for me and for all young workers like me, whom he always motivated and provided the opportunity to grow, ”added Gupta.
In the big game of always, it is known that access to the “high command” is a challenge. Despite being one of Sonia Gandhi’s closest aides and a key member of the “high command” of Congress, Patel was anything but unapproachable.
“He was the man for all seasons and reasons. It was easy to get to him. He was one of the reasons why I was able to participate in the elections, he supported me. He was someone he could turn to at any time … to convey a point of view or ask for advice. With him there were no formalities, ”said Chidambaram.
“He said ‘don’t waste your time joking around and get straight to the point.’ Whenever a request was made, he always made sure the work was done promptly, ”said party spokeswoman Shama Mohammed.
“Even though he held such an important position, he was the most accessible senior leader for young leadership. You can call him at any time. I used to respond immediately. Whenever someone, specifically young leaders, faced difficulties or challenges, he was our mentor and always guided us in the right direction, ”said Kundan.
“No one can take his place. He was a legend and will remain alive in our thoughts forever.
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