In a heartbreaking incident, former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani has died in the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport. He was on his way to London to meet his family when the accident happened. He was 68 years old.
The crash involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 people on board. The plane crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar, just after take-off on Thursday afternoon.
Read more: In Heartfelt Message, King Charles Mourns Victims of Ahmedabad Air India Tragedy
A Quiet But Powerful Leader
Vijay Rupani was known for being a low-profile and soft-spoken leader in Gujarat politics. He served as Gujarat’s 16th Chief Minister for two terms, from 2016 to 2021.
Born in Yangon, Myanmar, to a Jain Bania family, his family moved to Rajkot in 1960 because of political unrest in Burma (now Myanmar). Rupani studied Arts and Law in Gujarat and began his political journey early.
From Student Activist to CM
Rupani started as a student activist with the RSS’s student wing, ABVP, and was actively involved in protests during the Emergency in 1975, for which he was jailed. He joined the BJP at the age of 24 and started his political career as a corporator in Rajkot in 1987.
He later became:
- Mayor of Rajkot (1996–1997)
- Rajya Sabha MP (2006–2012)
- State Cabinet Minister
- And eventually, Chief Minister of Gujarat
His Contributions
He became BJP Gujarat President in 2016 and then the Chief Minister, replacing Anandiben Patel. One of his well-known contributions includes promoting the famous “Khushboo Gujarat Ki” tourism campaign with Amitabh Bachchan, during his time as the chair of Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation in 2006.
He also led the state during the 2017 Gujarat Assembly Elections, despite the BJP facing some internal challenges.
Rupani resigned from the CM post in September 2021, a few months before the 2022 elections.
A Tragic Coincidence
This tragedy reminds many of a similar incident from 1965. Balwantrai Mehta, Gujarat’s second Chief Minister, also died in a plane crash. His plane was mistakenly shot down by the Pakistani Air Force during the Indo-Pak war, killing him, his wife, and others.
Read more: Black Smoke and Screams: Eyewitnesses Recall Chaos After Ahmedabad Plane Crash
A Loss to the Party and Nation
Union Minister CR Patil confirmed Rupani’s death and called it a “big loss for the BJP.” Rupani’s passing has left a deep impact on the political world and all those who admired his calm leadership style and long-standing dedication to public service.
May his soul rest in peace.
