Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was 68 at the time, died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. This is a tragic incident that has deeply affected the BJP family. Rupani, a loyal and committed leader, was an iconic figure in the party, particularly for the Grassroots Nation. We will miss him dearly.
Rupani, who comes from the Saurashtra region of Rajasthan, began his political career with the RSS student wing ABVP in 1973. With a strong commitment to public service, he later went on to work for the Saurashtra-Kutch Stock Exchange Limited. He started his journey in mainstream politics in 1987 and went on to become the Rajkot Mayor, a role he held until 2014. While there, he held several top positions within the BJP, including general secretary, spokesperson, and even成为了state president. In 2006, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament.
Rupani’s political career took a significant turn in 2014 when the BJP fielded him for an Assembly bypoll from Rajkot (West). This was a challenging moment as he had to compete with the Prime Minister’s constituency, and despite facing stiff competition from the Congress, he won the seat easily. After his win, he was inducted into the Anandiben Patel government with various portfolios, including water supply, and labour and employment.
Rupani’s greatest political challenge came in the Assembly elections of 2017, where the BJP struggled against the Congress and garnered an all-time low tally. However, his second term as Chief Minister saw the party return, with all 26 Lok Sabha seats won and eight municipal corporations retained. Despite facing criticism, Rupani steered the party through those difficult times.
Rupani, gunning for another term in the 2017 elections, was careful not to trigger a 2017 rerun. In September 2021, the BJP conducted an organizational overhaul, bringing in a new lineup from the chief minister to the state president and ministers. On election day, Rupani resigned within hours and immediately resigned from the party with the right mindset, which shows his dedication to the party.
Earlier, his appointment as the BJP in-charge for Punjab and Chandigarh was announced, and last December, he was deputed as the observer for the Maharashtra BJP Legislature Party meeting. His 연속ряд his years of service and dedication to the party, and he will always be remembered for his sharp sagacity and ease of approach.
