Congress leader Ahmed Patel passed on Wednesday (3.30 am) at the age of 71 years after COVID-19 complication in Gurugram Hospital.
His son Faisal Patel tweeted ,"With profound grief I regret to announce that sad and untimely demise of my father on 25/11 at 3.30a.m."
More than month after testing positive for Covid-19 infection, Patel was under treatment at a Gurugram-based hospital. He was being monitored by a team of doctors.
Grieving the loss of the senior Congress leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter said his role in strengthening the opposition party will always be remembered.
President Ram Nath Kovind said Patel combined skills of a strategist and the charm of a mass leader.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the politician "a pillar of the party" and said "We will miss him. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz & the family," in a tweet.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram tweeted, "Deeply shocked and saddened to learn that my dear friend Ahmed Patel passed away in the early hours of today...For two decades, he was one of the staunchest pillars of the Congress party and a trusted counsellor. He will be profoundly missed...I offer my tribute to his memory and convey my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted his "remarkable contribution to his party and public life" and expressed grief in a tweet.
The 70-year-old was a close political advisor to Congress. Sonia Gandhi mourned the death of one of her closest aide in a statement.
"In Ahmed Patel, I have lost a colleague whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress Party. His faithfulness and dedication, his commitment to his duty, his always being there to help, his generosity were rare qualities that distinguished him from others," wrote Sonia Gandhi.
"I have lost an irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend. I mourn his passing and I feel deeply for his bereaved family to whom I offer my sincere feelings of empathy and support."
