[7] Patel started his political career by contesting local body elections in the Bharuch District of Gujarat in 1976.

[8] He was selected by the then Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1977 to contest elections for the Sixth Lok Sabha from Bharuch.

[9] In 1987, in his capacity as Member of Parliament, he had helped set up the Narmada Management Authority to monitor the Sardar Sarovar Project.

He had also been appointed as the treasurer of the All India Congress Committee in 2018, replacing senior party member Motilal Vora.

The Sardar Patel bridge to de-congest traffic between the twin cities of Bharuch and Ankleshwar has also been one of his contributions to the region.

[18][19] The establishment of Sardar Patel Hospital & Heart Institute in Ankleshwar is also credited to his efforts He was considered a part of the power center in the Congress party due to his proximity to the president, Sonia Gandhi.