Ahmed Patel ran an open house for Congress workers

November 26, 2020 12:21

'He would treat visitors to Gujarati snacks as he simultaneously saw many people in various nooks he had in his home. Multiple gatherings that he moved between. Always, a queue outside.

'I once asked him how do you deal with so many people on a daily basis. This was when his daughter-in-law was battling a terminal disease. He said "These Congress people come from such far away places, spend so much money to get here. Wait in line. All they want is a feeling that someone hears them, a hand on their shoulder, and then they are ready to battle for the Congress again'.'

This is how Patel maintained Gandhi's hold on the congress party, writes Swati Chaturvedi in ndtv.com of the Congress party's Ahmed Patel who passed into the ages on Wednesday. '

If Patel had one regret expressed privately, it was that Rahul Gandhi did not really like him. Yet, in 2018, with the Congress party broke, Gandhi had to appoint him treasurer to fund the 2019 elections,' she recalls.

And concludes: 'The last time I met him at his home about 10 months ago, he said, "It is time to retire. I want to go back to Bharuch". I laughed and said, "Nobody including your boss will let you go, Ahmed Bhai." He just smiled.'

You can read the article here.

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