The Negotiator

His company Autoriders is well known in Mumbai for its car dealership and car finance business. But the man, now a Shiv Sena MP from the Rajya Sabha, is better known primarily for his close links to Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray. Patels ties with the Sena chief came out in the open when he brokered the crucial meeting between Thackeray and Enron Corporations Rebecca Mark.

A letter comparing the seven fast-track power projects convinced Patel that Enrons Dabhol power project was the cheapest. And that led to the famous meeting. Recalls Patel, I called up Bal Thackeray and told him that if cancelling the Dabhol project was on the political agenda, then it was all right. But if he had cancelled the project because he felt Enron had cheated Maharashtra, then I was convinced that the project was certainly economical. So I told him, if he wanted I could take up the matter. And he did.

 

In fact, Patels involvement in the Shiv Sena is an extension of his relationship with Thackeray. His ties with Thackeray date back to 1986. He recalls, Mohan Rawle [a Shiv Sena MP] offered to introduce me to Bal Thackeray when I complained about seats not being reserved for women on BEST buses. Thats how I met Bal Thackeray. He agreed with my suggestion and immediately asked the BEST chief to reserve seats for women.

Now, of course, Patel is a confirmed Shiv Sena convert. The Shiv Sena government, he says, has done more in its short stint in the state than the previous governments. The biggest thing, according to him, is that within the first 100 days in power, it achieved everything on its manifesto. And Joshi, he says, has done esxcellent work