Vijay Rupani: From ABVP To Gujarat’s Go-To Man, Remembering BJP’s Quiet Disaster Supervisor
Final Up to date:
A person of few phrases, at all times calm, respectful, and grounded—Vijay Rupani’s legacy is one among grace, service, and ease
Vijay Rupani bowed out of electoral politics earlier than the 2022 Gujarat meeting elections. (PTI)
He started his political journey with the ABVP, transferring on to turn out to be an RSS Pracharak, a Jan Sangh member, and later, one of many founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP). He was even imprisoned throughout the Emergency in 1976. This was the trajectory of Vijay Rupani—a journey acquainted to many people who adopted Gujarat politics carefully.
I first encountered Rupani in late 2014 after I was newly assigned to cowl Parliament. As a fellow Gujarati, I used to be thrilled to fulfill somebody from my dwelling state—extra so as a result of he hailed from Rajkot, not removed from my household’s roots in Morbi, each cities nestled within the Saurashtra area. Rupani was cautious in his public speech, very like many seasoned Gujarat politicians, who usually averted media soundbites. But each time he noticed me amongst a bunch of journalists, he greeted me together with his signature heat: “Kem cho, Ben?”
A few years later, Gujarat politics was in turmoil once more—this time over who would succeed then chief minister Anandiben Patel. Rupani confided in just a few of us in Parliament that he was being referred to as again to Gujarat. The very subsequent day, I discovered myself on the BJP workplace in Gandhinagar. True to BJP custom, I joked with Rupani: “I’m not even mentioning your title as a contender as a result of the second we try this in your get together, it’s assured to not occur!”
At that time, all buzz pointed to Nitin Patel because the successor. Like most journalists, I went to his residence, interviewed him, after which returned to the BJP headquarters to file the story. My workplace insisted I return to Delhi, assuming the central observers’ assembly was only a formality. However future had different plans. By the point I reached the airport, information broke that Union minister Nitin Gadkari had declared Rupani as the following chief minister of Gujarat.
Connecting with him once more in 2017 throughout the meeting elections was not simple. Our interactions grew to become considerably heated, however even in disagreement, Rupani by no means misplaced his calm. Whether or not in Delhi or Gujarat, he at all times greeted me with real heat.
In 2021, I used to be once more rushed to Gujarat amid hypothesis of a management change. When it grew to become clear that Rupani was stepping down, he did so with grace, making method for Bhupendra Patel. That transition too had its quirks—Patel himself solely came upon about his appointment when somebody sitting beside him on the assembly knowledgeable him.
Rupani later bowed out of electoral politics earlier than the 2022 Gujarat meeting elections. He was the primary senior chief to take action, paving the way in which for others, together with his former deputy CM Nitin Patel. But, Rupani remained energetic, campaigning wholeheartedly for the get together and later being appointed as Punjab in-charge—an organisational problem given the BJP’s restricted presence there. Even in that new terrain, he dealt with his position with quiet effectivity and understanding.
My household presently resides in Kolkata and belongs to the Jain group. His passing has despatched shockwaves by way of Jain circles throughout Gujarat and Bengal. Once I spoke to my mom final afternoon, she mourned his loss deeply and recalled how he had humbly attended our household guru’s occasion, making a major contribution to jeev daya—the Jain precept of compassion in the direction of all residing beings. She additionally shared a tribute from Jain Guru Namra Muni Ji:
“A beloved son of the Jain group, a real gem and lover of all residing beings—Vijaybhai Rupani’s service will at all times be remembered.”
I additionally spoke with former Gujarat minister Saurabh Patel, who expressed his sorrow: “Phrases fail me. Rupani-ji’s best power was his accessibility—he at all times listened. I keep in mind how he led with resolve throughout the Covid-19 disaster, particularly when oxygen shortages grew to become important. He took cost and helped the state navigate by way of one among its most difficult phases. His passing is an irreparable loss for Gujarat and Rajkot particularly.”
Senior journalist Sheela Bhatt, who has witnessed the rise of many Gujarat leaders, mirrored: “He was an affable Saurashtrian, deeply rooted within the RSS ideology. Although a Jain Baniya by beginning, caste by no means outlined him. His unwavering dedication to the RSS introduced him near Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Through the BJP’s inner disaster beneath Shankersinh Vaghela’s revolt, Rupani emerged as a silent saviour—working past Rajkot to safe Saurashtra for Keshubhai Patel’s faction. He later rose to turn out to be BJP state president and was extensively seen as near the get together’s prime brass.”
Tragedy struck the Rupani household early in life when their youngest son, Pujit, died in an accident. Deeply affected, the household established a belief in his title to assist the schooling of underprivileged youngsters in Rajkot’s slum areas. The belief has since empowered numerous vivid college students—carrying ahead the legacy of a younger life misplaced too quickly.
His spouse, Anjali Rupani, was not solely a pillar of power but in addition a robust affect in his political journey.
“Rupani will likely be sorely missed in Rajkot,” Bhatt provides. “As CM, he drove growth with actual imaginative and prescient—roads, grain markets, digital initiatives, knowledge techniques… He was a textbook instance of a grassroots karyakarta rising to the highest in regional politics.”
In the meantime, in London, a daughter awaiting the 10-hour flight of her father to be with them at dwelling—a flight that may by no means attain—is an unthinkable loss for the household.
As Gujarat mourns, the loss feels profoundly private. A person of few phrases, at all times calm, respectful, and grounded—Vijay Rupani’s legacy is one among grace, service, and ease.
- First Printed:
