Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has died in the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred near Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The 68-year-old leader Rupani was on his way to London to meet his family. He was among the 242 people on board the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar shortly after takeoff. Only one person survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital.
Union Minister CR Paatil confirmed the news of Rupani’s demise while speaking to reporters. “Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim of this incident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP,” he said.
Early Life and Education
Vijay Rupani was born to Mayaben and Ramniklal Rupani in Yangon, Myanmar, in a Jain Bania family. He was the seventh and youngest son.
Due to political instability in Myanmar, the Rupani family moved to Rajkot in 1960. Rupani completed his undergraduate degree in Arts from Dharmendrasinhji Arts College and went on to study law at Saurashtra University.
Entry Into Politics: From Activist to Mayor
Rupani's political journey began during his college days, when he became an activist with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS.
He actively participated in the Navnirman movement and drew inspiration from Jayaprakash Narayan’s anti-corruption crusade. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the age of 24.
In 1975, during the Emergency, Rupani was imprisoned for protesting against the government and spent one year in Bhavnagar jail.
His formal political career started in 1987 when he was elected as a corporator in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. He later became the mayor of Rajkot for a term between 1996 and 1997.
Rupani served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012 and was known for his quiet but persistent presence in Gujarat’s political circles.
Rise to Chief Ministership
Rupani’s steady rise within the BJP led him to win the Assembly by-election from Rajkot West in 2014. In February 2016, he was appointed the state BJP president.
Following Anandiben Patel’s resignation in August 2016, Rupani was chosen to take over as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. Known for his composed demeanour and low-profile style, Rupani led the state through a turbulent period marked by social unrest and political dissent.
He managed to retain BJP's leadership in Gujarat during the 2017 assembly elections, even as the party’s seat count dropped below 100 for the first time in years. He continued to serve as Chief Minister until September 2021.
Key Roles Before CM Tenure
Before assuming the role of Chief Minister, Rupani served as the chair of the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation in 2006.
During his tenure, the state launched the widely recognised “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” campaign featuring Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan.
He also held the position of chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013. These roles underscored his administrative capabilities and laid the groundwork for his leadership at the state level.
Resignation and Legacy
In September 2021, Vijay Rupani stepped down from the Chief Minister’s post ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections, making way for Bhupendra Patel. Despite his resignation, he remained a respected figure within the party and among peers.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recalled his interactions with Rupani in the Rajya Sabha and their cordial exchanges outside the House.
“He was extremely affable and the aggression in the House would very often be accompanied with a smile,” Ramesh shared, reminiscing about their conversations in the now-defunct Central Hall on topics ranging from climate change to Myanmar, Rupani’s birthplace.
Rupani’s calm leadership, ideological commitment, and decades of public service made him a key figure in Gujarat’s political evolution.
As Chief Minister, his tenure included the introduction of the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 and focused efforts for tribal upliftment. He also played a crucial role in navigating the state through the challenges of the post-COVID recovery phase.
His sudden demise in the air crash has left a void in Gujarat’s political landscape and within the BJP, where he was seen as a steady hand and a disciplined organiser.