The return of Ahmed Patel

Nothing is permanent in politics and things can change quickly. Indian politics too is not immune to this dogma. The present crisis inCongress hasbrought a sidelined player to the centre stage.

Ahmed Patel served as political secretary to Sonia Gandhi and virtually ran the party for 15 years. 80 per cent of the appointments within the Congress during his heydays were influenced by him. Despite the power he enjoyed, Patel was the most self-effacing and media-shy politician.

He hated his name on papers. He avoided TV to his best but still knew every reporter and editor by name. He continues with this habit but now and then indulges himself with an occasional television byte.

He was systematically sidelined by new Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The new president wanted his team in place and he got one slowly which had more outsiders than ever.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

In fact, Rahulsidelined most of the Congress leaders who were associated with Ahmed Patel. Few close to him survived. They survived because they were powerful leaders in their respective states. The best example is Ashok Gehlot. Despite the onslaught and systematic neglect, Ahmed Patel held on to the party. He did not walk away.

He fought Rajya Sabha elections alone without any party support. It is not without significance that it took Rahul Gandhi more than 4 hours to congratulate him. He survived because he had obliged many in the 10 years Congress was in power. He did not make many enemies barring Amit Shah which was unavoidable.

Such was his resilience that he would often snub journalists for writing on all the work he did quietly for Gandhis. Though, he could not save his friend Janardan Dwivedi. It is said that he could not take a stand when Rahul Gandhi was altering the party in his image.

Things changed. Today, there is no leader except him in the Congress who can build a network quietly. He is the only one with whom his contemporaries and chief ministers are willing to talk. He is the glue today which can connect with each and every person in Congress. He may not be able to influence decisions unilaterally the way he didin the past, but he can still bring everyone on the table. The old man is back in the game again.

He still manages to get time to meet Sonia Gandhi. Though there was a time that even Sonia Gandhi was seeing less of him. Now, the party needs him more than ever.

Sonia and Rahulhave taken a step back and Priyankais confined to Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka will have to prove herself to become a contender at the national level. Rahul Gandhi is not a contender today and Sonia Gandhi, much respected will never occupy the centre stage again. In this case, it is Ahmed Patel who has been left with the baby crying. It is him, who is meeting people to create a consensus in the party in the absence of Rahul Gandhi moving away. If one has to understand as to what is happening in Congress, one may need to work their phone lines with Ahmad Patel again.

It is also true that the office of Rahul Gandhi is counting peoplewho demonstrated their loyalty in time of Rahul’s utmost humiliation at hustings. Perhaps, Rahul Gandhi wanted others to resign in large numbers. It did not happen. One reason wasthat the show of support in Delhi was a big flop. The irony is that it ultimately took Ahmed Patel to create a face-saving exit for 150 loyalists who were sitting in to create pressure on Rahul Gandhi so that he withdraws his resignation.

Ahmed Patel can never be the king. In past, he was the kingmaker. He can play this role for a few more years. The choice is wide open for the party. It can either go for a loyalist and subsequentlyreignite its love affair with a younger Gandhi or chart a new journey with a new non-dynastic leader who can remake the Congress party. The game is on.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)