India First

So, What’s So Great About Ahmad Patel? Congress MP Ahmad Patel has made it to the Indian Parliament as its member an impressive number of times – thrice in Lok Sabha and four times in Rajya Sabha (excluding his victory earlier this week). By this parameter itself, he could be considered a successful politician. Extended innings in the Indian Parliament would typically earn a Member of Parliament a Cabinet berth. However, Ahmad Patel has never been a minister and has kept away from media, even during the ten years of rule by Congress-led United Progressive Alliance. Besides his not having occupied any ministerial berth, when one hears the name ‘Ahmad Patel’, one strains to identify typical memories associated with successful politicians in a democracy  – memorable speeches in or outside Parliament, their views on matters of national importance, conviction, clarity of thought, leadership. And one draws a blank! So, what’s so very special about Ahmad Patel that the recen...