Praful Patel

Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born 17 February 1957) is an Indian politician, industrialist and sports administrator. He is associated with the Nationalist Congress Party.

Not to be confused with Praful Khoda Patel.

Praful Patel
Patel at the 2013 World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Assumed office
2014
ConstituencyMaharashtra
In office
2000–2009
ConstituencyMaharashtra
Member of the FIFA Council
Assumed office
2019
National Working President
Nationalist Congress Party
In office
10 June 2023 – 2 July 2023
National President Nationalist Congress PartySharad Pawar
In-charge for State
Department
Preceded byPosition Established
National Vice President
Nationalist Congress Party
In office
16 September 2022 – 02 July 2023
National President Nationalist Congress PartySharad Pawar
Member of FIFA Finance Committee
Assumed office
2017
Senior Vice President of AFC (SAFF zone)
In office
2015–2019
Succeeded byFaisal Saleh Hayat
10th President of All India Football Federation
In office
20 October 2009 – 18 May 2022
Preceded byPriya Ranjan Dasmunsi
Succeeded byKalyan Chaubey
President of Western India Football Association
Assumed office
2009
Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
In office
19 January 2011 – 26 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded bySantosh Mohan Dev
Succeeded byAnant Geete
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation
In office
23 May 2004 – 18 January 2011
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byRajiv Pratap Rudy
Succeeded byVayalar Ravi
Personal details
Born (1957-02-17) 17 February 1957
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Political partyNationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar)
SpouseVarsha Patel
ChildrenAvni, Niyati, Poorna and Prajay
Residence(s)Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationSports administrator
Politician
Websitepraful-patel.com
As of 8 May, 2008

He was the president of India's association football governing body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from 2009[1] till 2022 when the Committee of Administrators (CoA) took over the interim administration following the appointment by the Supreme Court.[2][3][4][5] He became the Asian Football Confederation's vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain in 2015.[6] In December 2016 he was appointed as the Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation. In 2017, He became a member of a FIFA Finance Committee for a term of four years.[7][8]

On the 25th anniversary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Party Chief Sharad Pawar appointed Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents of the Party.[9] [10] [11]

Early life and education

Patel is the son of Indian National Congress politician Manoharbhai Patel, who represented Gondia in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. His father died when Patel was 13. His family runs the CEEJAY group tobacco conglomerate.[12] He attended Mumbai's Campion School, and the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay.

Career
Praful Patel assumes the charge of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on 24 May 2004

Political career

Patel followed in his father's footsteps in choosing a political career.[13] In 1985, he became the president of the Gondia Municipal Council, and in the 1991 Indian general election was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha. In 1996 and 1998 he was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha and 12th Lok Sabha respectively.[14] Patel has served on a number of parliamentary committees, including the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (1991–1996), the Committee on Science and Technology (1994–1995), the Committee on Home Affairs (1995–1996), the Committee on Finance (1996–97), and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a representative of Maharashtra in 2000.[15] He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for his second term in 2006, and in the 2009 was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a fourth term. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2016.[16]

From 2004 to 2011, Patel was served as the Minister of Civil Aviation. In this role, the government increased the foreign direct investment cap in the domestic airlines sector from 40% to 49%.[17][18] On 19 January 2011, Patel was relieved of Civil Aviation portfolio and became the cabinet minister for Minister of the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.[19][20]

On 9 January 2013, Patel launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 roadmap for introducing electric and hybrid vehicles in India.[21][22][23] Patel launched a project to build the world's largest solar power plant near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.[24] The project was planned to generate roughly 4000 MW of power, but following protest from environmental groups, the project site was moved to Kharaghoda in Surendranagar district of Gujarat.[25][26][27]

AIFF President

In 2013, Patel placed a bid for India to host the 2015 and 2016 FIFA World Club Championships.[28]

Under Patel, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) introduced the Indian Super League run by the Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd., which aims to make Indian football more competitive at an international level. In April 2014, Patel announced of the eight franchise owners in the Indian Super League.

Patel signed agreements with the German Football Association (DFB), the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2015 for their support and expertise for the "mutual growth, promotion and continuous emphasis on the development of football."[29]

Patel brought back international friendlies to India, with Mumbai awarded its first international match in 61 years when India hosted Puerto Rice in 2016.[30] Praful has said that India will host more friendly matches in the future.[31]

On 28 March 2016, Patel announced the commencement of a women's league later in 2016.[32][33] In a Special General Body Meeting of the AIFF held in New Delhi, a women's league was introduced in line with Patel's plans to place more emphasis on women's football. On 17 October 2016, the women's football league trial kicked off for the first time in India in the city of Cuttack.[34][35] On 24 January 2017 AIFF President Praful Patel launched the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League at New Delhi. The league will commence from 28 January with six teams participating in it.[36][37]

On 1 December 2016, Patel was appointed as the senior vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.[38] India subsequently won the rights to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and hosted the AFC U-16 Championship in September 2016. The All India Football Federation has also won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award at the AFC's Annual Awards 2016 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[39]

On 21 January 2016, Praful Patel was elected unopposed as the AIFF President for the third consecutive terms.[40][41]

Patel was removed from his presidency of the AIFF by the Supreme Court and replaced by a Committee of Administrators (CoA) after failing to organise presidential elections despite his third term expiring in December 2020.[42]

Alleged role in AIFF's suspension by FIFA

In August 2022, FIFA suspended the All India Football Federation for violating its statutes on third-party interference. India was stripped off its hosting rights for international football tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup scheduled for October 2022.[43] Patel who had stayed in office as the AIFF president despite his third term expiring in December 2020 had been replaced by a Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Patel was accused of orchestrating the AIFF's suspension by arranging a letter from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation threatening AIFF with a suspension if he wasn't restored to its presidency.[44] The Supreme Court dissolved the CoA and restored day-to-day management to the AIFF on August 22.[45] FIFA lifted its suspension of the AIFF on August 26, and restored it the rights of the U-17 Women's World Cup.[46]

Memberships and chairman positions

Patel is chairman of the Manoharbhai Patel Charitable Trust, which funds the Manoharbhai Patel Institute of Engineering and Technology, the president of the Gondia Education Society,[47] the Gondwana Club, Nagpur Lions International Club, the Cricket Club of Mumbai and Mumbai Cricket Association.[48]

Personal life

He married Varsha Patel, the daughter of a Gujarati businessman, on 10 February 1977. They have one son - Prajay - and three daughters - Poorna, Niyati and Avni.

References
  1. "Praful Patel formally elected as AIFF president". The Print. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  2. "SC appoints Committee of Administrators headed by ex judge to manage affairs of AIFF". The Print. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  3. "Supreme Court appoints three-member Committee of Administrators to run AIFF". Khel Now. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  4. "Detailed Profile: Shri Praful Manoharbhai Patel". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  5. "The Risk Taker : Thinkworks". Thinkworks.in. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. "AIFF president Praful Patel elected as AFC vice-president".
  7. "Praful Patel appointed member of FIFA's finance committee". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  8. "FIFA appoints Praful Patel as member of its finance committee – The Economic Times". The Economic Times. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. "Sharad Pawar appoints Praful Patel, Supriya Sule as NCP working presidents". economictimes. 10 June 2023.
  10. "Sharad Pawar Announces Praful Patel, Supriya Sule NCP Working Presidents". NDTV. 10 June 2023.
  11. "Praful Patel and Supriya Sule to be working presidents of NCP, declares Sharad Pawar". Times of India. 10 June 2023.
  12. "Praful The Jet-Minister". Upper Crust India.
  13. "Political Career". 164.100.47.132. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  14. "India Gov : Political Career". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  15. "Political Career". Parliamentofindia. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  16. "Suresh Prabhu, Piyush Goyal, P. Chidambaram elected to Rajya Sabha". Livemint. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  17. "Cabinet to consider hiking FDI in civil aviation to 49%". Business Line. 20 October 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  18. "Govt may allow FDI in domestic airlines". Rediff. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  19. "Praful Patel elected as President of AIFF". Goal. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  20. "India Cabinet : List of ministers of India & their departments (Year – 2014)". Worldsnap. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  21. "National Electric Mobility Mission Plan Launched Today" (Press release). Government of India Press Releases. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  22. "National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 unveiled". EnergyNext. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  23. "PM Manmohan Singh to launch National Electric Mobility Mission Plan in next few weeks: Praful Patel". The Economic Times. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  24. "Provide subsidy for BHEL's solar gear unit: Patel". Zeenews. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  25. "BHEL, 5 other PSUs to set up 4,000 MW solar plant in Rajasthan". Business Line. Press Trust of India. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  26. "India to build world's largest solar power plant in Rajasthan". Zeenews. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  27. Sinha, Shishir. "Rajasthan mega solar project likely to be shifted to Gujarat". @businessline. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  28. "India to bid for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup: AIFF". The Times of India. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  29. "AIFF to Seek Expertise From French Football Federation – NDTV Sports". Sports.ndtv.com. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  30. "International football returns to Mumbai after 61 years". The Times of India. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  31. "India v Puerto Rico – Praful Patel – India will host more friendlies". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  32. "Women's football league to start in India this year: AIFF president Praful Patel". Ibtimes.co.in. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  33. "AIFF to Kick off Indian Women's Football League This Year". The Quint. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  34. "Indian Women's League kicks off on October 17th in Cuttack!!!". Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  35. "AIFF to introduce Women's Football League later this year – Sports Cafe | DailyHunt". M.dailyhunt.in. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  36. "AIFF launch inaugural edition of Indian Women's League to be held in New Delhi from 28 January". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  37. "AIFF launches six-team women's football league". India Today. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  38. "Praful Patel: Praful Patel appointed as AFC senior vice president". The Times of India. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  39. "Praful Patel appointed AFC Senior VP". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  40. "Praful Patel elected unopposed as AIFF president for third time". The Indian Express. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  41. "Praful Patel elected unopposed as AIFF president for third time | football". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  42. "SC removes Praful Patel and his committee from AIFF, appoints Committee of Administrators". Times Now. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  43. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "FIFA suspends All India Football Federation | DW | 15.08.2022". DW.COM. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  44. "Ex-football chief Praful Patel 'arranged' FIFA letter on India ban: SC-mandated panel". The Indian Express. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  45. "Supreme Court dissolves CoA, All India Football Federation administration to take over day-to-day management". India Today. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  46. "FIFA suspends All India Football Federation". FIFA. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  47. "Social activities : Lok Sabha(India Govt.)". Fifteenth Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  48. "Association with Sports and Clubs : Archive(India Govt.)". Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
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