Vijay Rupani – His Early Life, Political Career, and Service to Gujarat Explained Simply

Vijay Rupani was a senior Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. People knew him for his calm nature, clean image, and focus on development.

He was born on August 2, 1956, in Rangoon (now Yangon), Myanmar. His family moved to Rajkot, Gujarat, in 1960. He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Law degree (LLB) from Saurashtra University. Rupani was also active in student politics and became involved with the RSS and its student wing ABVP early in life.

During the Emergency in India (1975–77), he was jailed for nearly a year because he protested against the government. His political career began in Rajkot, where he became a municipal councillor and later served as Mayor in 1996–97.

In 2006, he became a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. Later, in 2014, he was elected as an MLA from Rajkot West. He also served as a minister in the Gujarat government and held several important departments like transport and water supply.

In August 2016, he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Under his leadership, Gujarat continued its work on roads, water, electricity, and industry. He helped the state face challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on better health and public services.

In September 2021, he stepped down from his position, and Bhupendra Patel became the next Chief Minister. Even after that, Vijay Rupani remained active in public life.

Sadly, on June 12, 2025, Vijay Rupani died in a tragic Air India plane crash while traveling from Ahmedabad to London. He was 68 years old. His sudden death shocked many across India, and leaders from all political parties paid tribute to his service.