For the dozen years that Modi was chief minister, Patel was minister for industries, mines and minerals, petrochemicals, ports and energy. These are vital ministries, especially in Gujarat which is one of India's most industrialised states. Patel's portfolios addressed the business interests of five groups of companies, Tatas, Essar, Adani, Ambani and Torrent. The Gujarati media laughingly referred to Modi's task as being similar to that of the Mahabharat's Draupadi who had five husbands to keep happy.
If the portfolios he was handling were important, and clearly they were, why was Patel not given Cabinet rank? Because, in my opinion, Modi wanted to retain ultimate control over the decision making process in these ministries.