| Praful Manoharbhai Patel | |
|---|---|
| MP, Minister of Heavy Industries,Public Enterprises | |
| Constituency | Bhandara-Gondia, Maharashtra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 February 1957 Kolkata |
| Political party | Nationalist Congress Party |
| Spouse(s) | Varsha Patel |
| Children | Poorna Patel (Daughter) |
| Residence | 26 Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road, New Delhi 110001 India |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Businessman [1] |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Website | Parliament Member |
| As of May 8, 2008 | |
Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born February 17, 1957, Kolkata; Hindi, Marathi: प्रफुल मनोहरभाई पटेल) is a Member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Bhandara-Gondia parliamentary constituency and is a member of the Nationalist Congress Party. He currently holds the title of Cabinet Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in the Government of India.
Before moving to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Patel was a Minister of State for Civil Aviation up to January 2011. He has earned notoriety because between April 2009 and April 2011 his personal assets grew by 53%—from Rs. 79 crore to Rs. 122 crore—at the rate of Rs. 5 lakh per day.[2] The same period saw a remarkable rise in the debt incurred by India's national carrier, Air India.[3]
He is the son of prominent Congressman, Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel. He studied at Campion School, Mumbai, then graduated in commerce from Sydenham College of Mumbai, prior to joining the family business. Further he is one of the few politicians who does not draw a salary from the government. He has been Patel was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in 1991 at the age of 34. He was then elected three times consecutively to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabhas. In April 2000 he was chosen to Rajya Sabha .[4] and again reelected in April 2006. He is currently a member of the 15th Lok Sabha
Apart from his political activities, Patel is also a very successful businessman.
On May 16, 2009, Senior NCP leader and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel secured victory from Bhandara-Gondiya (Lok Sabha constituency) ( Maharashtra) with a margin of 2,47,721 votes in Vidarbha region. In his long Parliamentary career he has been member of several Parliamentary Committees, notably Finance, Civil aviation, Environment and Forests, Foreign Affairs to name a few. He was the Chairman of the Indo-Uk Parliamentary Forum and Founder Member of the Indo-Us Parliamentary Forum.
Shri Praful Patel was awarded the CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation)Aviation Minister in the Asia Pacific REgion who has contributed the most to the progress of aviation in the region. The leading news magazine India Today, ranked Shri Praful Patel as No.1 Minister in 2006. He was awarded the Economic Times Reformer of the year Award in 2007. He has been conferred a Doctorate by the Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution towards economic reforms. The Civil Aviation sector grew exponentially under his leadership from the year 2004-09. Son of Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel, he graduated in Commerce prior to joining the family business with diverse interests in Beedis, Tobacco, Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Real Estate, Packaging etc., eventually heading the group known as the "Ceejay Group". Shri Praful Patel inherited his passion for politics and social service from his father who was a senior leader of the Congress in Maharashtra, as well as a great philanthropist. The Patel family runs the 'Gondia Education Society' in the Gondia district of Maharashtra. The Society imparts education to 80,000 students in all disciplines ranging from Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Information Technology, Computer Science etc., paving the weay for youngesters to become self-reliant.
Other than Politics and Business, Shri Praful Patel is an ardent sportsman, being President of All India Football Federation and member of the Executive of the Asian Football Confederation. He is also an active member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and various other social organizations.
Shri Praful Patel's induction into the Union Cabinet in May, 2004 as Minister of State for Civil Aviation with Independent Charge, comes as a high point in his political career of over two decades. He held the Civil Aviation up to 19 January 2011. He was elevated to the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises on 20 January 2011, a charge he currently hold.
Praful Patel's 7 year ministerial performance has come under severe criticism following CAG's report on Air India in 2011. Particularly, Air India- Indian Airline merger and decision to buy 111 planes have been pointed as 'recipe for disaster' in the report. Many are now raising voices to sack him out of Government.