Former home minister of Gujarat Praful Khodabhai Patel appointed administrator of Daman and Diu

SURAT: Former home minister of Gujarat, Praful Khodabhai Patel has been appointed as the administrator of union territory of Daman and Diu. However, the present incumbent, Vikram Devdutt will continue to serve as administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH).
Patel, former home minister of Gujarat during the stint of then chief minister Narendra Modi, is considered close to PM Modi.
This is for the first time in the history of union territory of Daman and Diu, the ministry of home affairs appointed the former home minister of Gujarat as the administrator of Daman and Diu through its order dated August 23.
Born on 28 August, 1957 at Unava, Shri Praful Khodabhai Patel is Diploma holder in Civil Engineering. He started his career in construction sector through his partnership firm Sabar Construction. On social front, he served through Rotary club, Lions Club, Red Cross Society and other social organizations.
The post of administrator of union territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH) is an ex-cadre post. However, in all these years, the ministry of home affairs has made successive appointments of the IAS cadre officers as the administrator. This is first time that a politician has been appointed as the administrator.
Sources said that Patel’s appointment as the administrator of Daman and Diu will further pave way for the proposed merger of the union territory into Gujarat state.
Patel, is considered close to PM Narendra Modi. It was due to his closeness that Patel was given portfolio of Home department by then chief minister Modi.