Gujarat minister Saurabh Patel may reply to EC notice: ‘I’m related to Ambanis’

Kejriwal alleged that Patel's relations with the Ambani family had got him important portfolio of energy and petrochemical in the state.

Gujarat energy and petrochemical minister Saurabh Patel, who was asked by the Election Commission to clarify on his relations with the Ambanis, will confirm the link in a written reply to the EC. The EC had sent the query a week back, based on allegations by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. It is waiting for the minister’s response for further action.

Patel, who is currently the guardian of the Vadodara parliamentary seat for BJP’s Prime Ministerial nominee and chief minister Narendra Modi, had complained to the EC against Kejriwal’s allegations that his relations with the Ambani family had got him important portfolio of energy and petrochemical and through him the Ambanis were controlling the petrochemical establishments in the state. Patel is the son-in-law of Reliance Industries founder Dhirubhai Ambani’s brother Ramnikbhai.

However, the EC chose to get this fact on record, before it acts on Patel’s complaint. “Patel will soon write to the EC that he has been related to the Ambanis for 25 years,” confirmed a close aide of Patel. The minister, who is busy in campaigning, represents Akota Assembly constituency, part of Vadodara LS seat.

“The EC had sought explanations on two counts – which portfolios Patel holds and whether he was related to the Ambanis,” said Gujarat special Chief Electoral Officer Ashwini Kumar. “While answer to the first query was available in the public domain, the EC asked Patel to reply to the query on his family relations,” he added. Kumar added that Patel had not been given any time frame to reply.

On his four-day visit to Gujarat in the first week of March, Kejriwal had raised several key issues and alleged favours to the Ambani family by the Modi government in appointing their family member as a key Cabinet minister in the government. A miffed Patel had raised the matter with EC and filed a complaint against Kejriwal, citing violation of code of conduct. He had stated that petroleum affairs being Central subject, the allegations were baseless.

Patel holds critical portfolios like energy and petrochemicals, mines and minerals, cottage industries, salt Industries, printing, stationery planning to tourism, civil aviation and labour and employment. Elevated to the Cabinet rank after the 2012 state Assembly elections, Patel earlier held the industry, mines and minerals and finance as minister of state between 2002 to 2012. Besides, Patel is also being considered as a potential successor to Modi, along with revenue minister Anandi Patel and finance minister Nitin Patel.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram