Praful Patel, the man who opened up the Indian aviation sector, would now have to make similar efforts to infuse some life into sick public sector industries.
After his vigorous attempts to try to revive ailing Air India, Praful Patel, the man who opened up the Indian aviation sector, would now have to make similar efforts to infuse some life into sick public sector industries.
The minister of state (independent charge) of the civil aviation ministry since 2004 was today elevated to the cabinet rank but was shifted to the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises.
With beleaguered Air India approaching the Bureau of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) for a revival package, it would be easy for Patel now to help it out as the BRPSE falls under his new ministry.
Talking to reporters after taking oath as a cabinet minister, Patel said "I am very happy that I am a cabinet minister now. It was time to move on and I have been saying this for some time, not because I was unhappy with the aviation portfolio."
"Aviation was very challenging and a tough responsibility. People may look at aviation as very glamorous but it is a very complex subject. Fundamental changes have been made in that sector and it has converted into a vibrant sector", he said.
Patel, a close associate of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, expressed gratitude to the prime minister saying he would do his best in whatever responsibility he was given.
Patel is credited with changing the Indian aviation scene after being at the helm for nearly seven years but faced flak for not being able to turn around the state-owned Air India to help restore its lost glory.
During Patel's stint, the aviation sector saw a booming air traffic, increased low-cost operations, modernisation of airports in several cities with private participation and major expansion in domestic and international air connectivity.
Born in a political family on February 17 1957, Patel is a four-time Lok Sabha member from Bhandara-Gondia in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region. He has been a Rajya Sabha member for two terms.
His political graph saw an upswing in the last decade after he parted ways with the Congress and joined Sharad Pawar's NCP.
His family runs Ceejay Group which has business interests in sectors as diverse as bidis, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, finance, real estate and packaging. Patel is also the president of the All India Football Federation.
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