<p class="bodytext">Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday condoled the demise of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, lauding him as a "guiding light" and hailing his contribution towards the Congress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Thackeray said Patel played a prominent role in the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, which came to power in Maharashtra last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Patel, who served as the Congress's backroom strategist for years, died at a Gurugram hospital in the early hours of Wednesday. He was suffering from complications related to Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/ahmed-patel-the-congress-troubleshooter-master-strategist-919670.html" target="_blank">Ahmed Patel: The Congress troubleshooter, master strategist</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">Thackeray in a statement said, "The Congress party has lost its Chanakya in Patel's demise, while the MVA government has lost a guiding light."<br /><br />"I got help from his experience and guidance when the MVA government was formed," the Chief Minister said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ahmed Patel was active not only on the political front but was also involved in several social activities, he added.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lost-an-irreplaceable-comrade-sonia-gandhi-condoles-ahmed-patels-demise-919646.html" target="_blank">'Lost an irreplaceable comrade': Sonia Gandhi condoles Ahmed Patel's demise</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">Pawar said he was deeply saddened to know about the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"His contributions to the Congress party will always be remembered. My sincere condolences to the members of his family," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief on Patel's demise.</p>.<p><strong>Read more:<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/ahmed-patels-role-in-strengthening-congress-will-always-be-remembered-pm-modi-919668.html" target="_blank"> PM Modi lauds 'Ahmed Bhai's' role in strengthening Congress</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">"Saddened to hear about the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel Ji. My sincere condolences to the departed soul. I pray for strength to his family members and supporters in this moment of grief. Om Shanti," Gadkari tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat and senior party leader Ashok Chavan also paid tributes to Patel, saying the party had lost an experienced, committed and loyal leader as well as a skilled organiser.<br /><br /></p>
<p class="bodytext">Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday condoled the demise of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, lauding him as a "guiding light" and hailing his contribution towards the Congress.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Thackeray said Patel played a prominent role in the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, which came to power in Maharashtra last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Patel, who served as the Congress's backroom strategist for years, died at a Gurugram hospital in the early hours of Wednesday. He was suffering from complications related to Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/ahmed-patel-the-congress-troubleshooter-master-strategist-919670.html" target="_blank">Ahmed Patel: The Congress troubleshooter, master strategist</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">Thackeray in a statement said, "The Congress party has lost its Chanakya in Patel's demise, while the MVA government has lost a guiding light."<br /><br />"I got help from his experience and guidance when the MVA government was formed," the Chief Minister said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ahmed Patel was active not only on the political front but was also involved in several social activities, he added.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lost-an-irreplaceable-comrade-sonia-gandhi-condoles-ahmed-patels-demise-919646.html" target="_blank">'Lost an irreplaceable comrade': Sonia Gandhi condoles Ahmed Patel's demise</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">Pawar said he was deeply saddened to know about the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"His contributions to the Congress party will always be remembered. My sincere condolences to the members of his family," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief on Patel's demise.</p>.<p><strong>Read more:<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/ahmed-patels-role-in-strengthening-congress-will-always-be-remembered-pm-modi-919668.html" target="_blank"> PM Modi lauds 'Ahmed Bhai's' role in strengthening Congress</a></strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">"Saddened to hear about the demise of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel Ji. My sincere condolences to the departed soul. I pray for strength to his family members and supporters in this moment of grief. Om Shanti," Gadkari tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat and senior party leader Ashok Chavan also paid tributes to Patel, saying the party had lost an experienced, committed and loyal leader as well as a skilled organiser.<br /><br /></p>