Ahmed Patel Dies At 71; Veteran Congress Leader Succumbs To COVID-19 Related Complications; Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi & Others Mourn Loss

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, one of Sonia Gandhi's closest political advisers, died at a Gurgaon hospital on the morning of November 25. The 71-year-old veteran politician had been at Medanta Hospital since his health worsened after post contracting COVID-19. A week earlier, he was shifted to the intensive care unit after his health condition worsened. His health began deteriorating over the past two weeks. The reason for his death was stated to be multiple organ failure. In a tweet at around 4 am, his son, Faisal Patel, said that the Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat died at 3.30 am. Mourning the death of Patel, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said she has lost an “irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend". Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the seasoned politician, saying "his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered”. Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Patel a “pillar of the Congress Party”.