Bhopal, Nov 25 (IANS): Following the sad demise of Congress veteran and Sonia Gandhi's close aide Ahmed Patel, a wave of grief spread across political and media circles especially in the Congress party since early morning on November 25. Senior Congress leaders and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh as well as former Congress M.P unit President Arun Yadav described Patel's demise as a "personal loss" for the party.

Expressing grief over Patel's death, Congressman Kamal Nath wrote, "I am shocked to know about the sad demise of my close friend for years, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel. It is a personal loss to me. His untimely death is such a loss for the Congress family that can never be fulfilled. My condolences to the family."

Digvijaya Singh remembered Patel and said, "Ahmed Patel is no more alive. I have lost the most reliable friend. We were together since 1977, he entered the Lok Sabha while I reached the Vidhan Sabha. For all Congressmen, he always had a medicine for all political ailments. He was soft-spoken, tactful and always smiling as a person."

Patel had been ailing for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gurugram. He breathed his last on Wednesday early morning.