Political Career
He is the son of a Congressman, Manoharbhai Patel. Patel was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in 1991 at the age of 34. He was then elected three times consecutively to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabhas. In April 2000 he was chosen to Rajya Sabha . and again re-elected in April 2006. He is currently a member of the 15th Lok Sabha
Patel took over as the Minister for Civil Aviation in 2004. While a leading Business daily in India, the Economic Times, named him Business Reformer of the year in 2007 for his pathbreaking initiatives in India's Aviation sector, Praful Patel has also been subjected to extensive criticism for the unsuccessful merger of India's two state airlines – Air India (International) and Indian (Domestic), and the subsequent holding company's escalating financial losses.
Apart from his political activities, Praful Patel runs the $5 billion CeeJay Group, the largest beedi (or bidi) maker in India’s western Maharashtra state. The company also has interest in pharmaceuticals and financial services, among other businesses, and employs at least 60,000 people. Praful Patel is widely known as the 'Bidi King' of India. He is also the president of All India Football Federation and member of the Executive of the Asian Football Confederation.
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