New Delhi Chronicle Desk.
New Delhi:Faisal Patel, the son of late Congress veteran Ahmed Patel, has lauded the Narendra Modi government, declaring that the “country is in safe hands.” The statement comes despite Patel’s deep family roots in the Congress party and just months after he announced a break from active political life.
Earlier this year, the 44-year-old political figure stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that he had decided to “stop working” for the Congress, citing limited opportunities to carry forward his father’s political legacy. Ahmed Patel, a towering figure in Indian politics, served as a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Gujarat’s Bharuch and held a Rajya Sabha seat for nearly three decades. Known as the Congress’s chief strategist, he was a close aide to Sonia Gandhi until his death from COVID-19 in 2020.
Bharuch Constituency Setback
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party chose not to field a candidate in Bharuch, honouring a seat-sharing understanding with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The decision reportedly disappointed both Faisal Patel and his sister, Mumtaz Patel. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has held Bharuch since 1989, eventually retained the seat after AAP’s defeat.
Clarification on Congress Ties
While his earlier announcement sparked speculation of political disillusionment, Faisal Patel has now clarified that he is “not upset with the Congress at all.”
“The whole party is my family. I have good relations with senior leaders and remain a Congress member. I have simply taken a sabbatical from public life,” he said.Praise for Modi Government
Faisal Patel’s recent remarks included strong praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of national security issues, including the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
“It can’t get better than who’s running the show. The armed forces have done a great job, and Prime Minister Modi showed remarkable leadership during a crisis,” Patel said. He also lauded External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, highlighting Modi’s practice of appointing capable bureaucrats to key ministerial positions.
