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{{short description|16th Chief Minister of Gujarat}}
{{Short description|Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image              = File:Vijay Rupani.jpg
| image              = Vijay Rupani.jpg
| office              = 16th [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]]
| caption            = Rupani in 2018
| office              = <!--Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]]-->16th [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]]
| term_start          = 7 August 2016
| term_start          = 7 August 2016
| term_end            = 12 September 2021
| term_end            = 11 September 2021
| governor            = [[Om Prakash Kohli]]<br>[[Acharya Devvrat]]
| assembly            = [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly            = [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| governor = • [[Om Prakash Kohli]]<br> • [[Acharya Devvrat]]
| predecessor        = [[Anandiben Patel]]
| predecessor        = [[Anandiben Patel]]
| successor          = [[Bhupendra Patel]]
| successor          = [[Bhupendrabhai Patel]]
| office1            = [[Cabinet Minister]]<br/>[[Government of Gujarat]]
| office1            = [[Anandiben Patel ministry|Cabinet Minister]] in [[Government of Gujarat|Gujarat]]
| term_start1        = 19 November 2014
| term_start1        = 19 November 2014
| term_end1          = 7 August 2016
| term_end1          = 7 August 2016
| 1blankname1        = {{centre|Ministry}}
| 1blankname1        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1          = {{centre|'''Term'''}}
| 1namedata1          = Anandiben Patel
| 2blankname1        = Minister of Transport
| 2blankname1        = Portfolio
| 2namedata1          = 19 November 2014 - 7 August 2016
| 2namedata1          = {{ubl|Transport|Labour and Employment|Water Supply}}
| 3blankname1        = Minister of Labour & Employment
| office2            = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| 3namedata1          = 19 November 2014 - 7 August 2016
| constituency2      = [[Rajkot West Assembly constituency|Rajkot West]]
| 4blankname1        = Minister of Water Supply
| term_start2        = 19 October 2014
| 4namedata1          = 19 November 2014 - 7 August 2016
| term_end2          = 8 December 2022
| office2            = [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly|Member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly]]
| preceded2          = [[Vajubhai Vala]]
| preceded2          = [[Vajubhai Vala]]
| constituency2      = [[Rajkot West (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rajkot West]]
| successor2          = [[Darshita Shah]]
| term_start2        =  19 October 2014
| office3            = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_end2          =
| office3            = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament<br/>Rajya Sabha]]
| constituency3      = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat|Gujarat]]
| constituency3      = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat|Gujarat]]
| term_start3        = 25 July 2006
| term_start3        = 25 July 2006
| term_end3          = 25 July 2012
| term_end3          = 24 July 2012
| office5            = [[President (corporate title)|President]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Gujarat]]
| office5            = President of [[Bharatiya Janata Party, Gujarat]]
| term_start5        = February 2016
| term_start5        = February 2016
| term_end5          = August 2016
| term_end5          = August 2016
| predecessor5        = [[R. C. Faldu]]
| predecessor5        = [[R. C. Faldu]]
| successor5          = [[Jitu Vaghani]]
| successor5          = [[Jitu Vaghani]]
| office6            = [[Mayor]] of [[Rajkot Municipal Corporation]]
| office6            = <!--Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]]--> [[Rajkot Municipal Corporation|Mayor of Rajkot]]
| predecessor6        = Bhavana Joshipura
| successor6          = [[Uday Kangad]]
| term_start6        = 1996
| term_start6        = 1996
| term_end6          = 1997<ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gujarat-cm-resigns-all-eyes-on-mlas-meet-to-select-rupanis-successor/articleshow/62197104.cms | title=Gujarat CM resigns, all eyes on MLAs' meet to select Pollard's successor | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=21 December 2017 | access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref>
| term_end6          = 1997<ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gujarat-cm-resigns-all-eyes-on-mlas-meet-to-select-rupanis-successor/articleshow/62197104.cms | title=Gujarat CM resigns, all eyes on MLAs' meet to select Pollard's successor | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=21 December 2017 | access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|8|2}}<ref name="IA2007"/>
| birth_name          = Vijaykumar Ramniklal Rupani
| birth_place        = [[Yangon|Rangoon]], [[Post-independence Burma (1948–1962)|Union of Burma]] (present-day [[Yangon]], [[Yangon Region]], [[Myanmar]])
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=y|1956|8|2}}<ref name="IA2007">{{cite web | title=Vijay Rupani: Member's Web Site | via=the Internet Archive | date=30 September 2007 | url= http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201434/http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 | archive-date=30 September 2007 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref>
| birth_name          = Vijay Ramniklal Rupani
| birth_place        = [[Yangon|Rangoon]], [[Yangon Region|Rangoon Division]], [[Union of Burma]]<br>(present-day Yangon, Myanmar)
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|2025|06|12|1956|08|02}}
| death_place        = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| death_cause        = [[Air_India_Flight_171|Aircraft accident]]
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| otherparty          = [[National Democratic Alliance]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Anjali Rupani|1980}}
| spouse              = Anjali Rupani
| children            = 3
| children            = 3
| parents            =  
| parents            =  
| residence          = [[Rajkot]], [[India]],
| alma_mater          = [[Saurashtra University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| cabinet            =
| portfolio          =
| signature          =
| website            = {{url|http://www.vijayrupani.in}}
}}
}}
'''Vijaybhai Ramniklalbhai Rupani''' (born 2 August 1956) is an Indian politician who served as the 16th [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]] from 2016 to 2021. He is a member of the [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]], representing [[Rajkot West]].<ref name=p/> He is a member of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].


==Early life==
'''Vijay Ramniklal Rupani''' (2 August 1956 – 12 June 2025) was an Indian politician who served as the <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] --> [[chief minister of Gujarat]] from 5 August 2016 to 11 September 2021 for two consecutive terms. He was a representative in the [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]] for the [[Rajkot West Assembly constituency|Rajkot West constituency]] from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP). He was among the passengers who died in the crash of [[Air India Flight 171]].
Vijay Rupani was born to Mayaben and Ramniklal Rupani, in [[Yangon]], [[Myanmar]] to a [[Jain]] [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] family.<ref name=toi0816>{{citation |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/india/How-Vijay-Rupani-pipped-Nitin-Patel-to-become-Gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/53563396.cms |title=How Vijay Rupani pipped Nitin Patel to become Gujarat chief minister |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=5 August 2016 }}</ref><ref name=et/> He was the seventh and youngest son of the couple.<ref name=ie>{{cite news|title=Vijay Rupani: A swayamsevak, stock broker and founder of a trust for poor|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/vijay-rupani-gujarat-cm-profile-2956811/|access-date=20 August 2016|agency=Indian Express|date=6 August 2015}}</ref> His family moved to Rajkot in 1960 due to political instability in Burma. He studied Bachelor of Arts from Dharmendrasinhji Arts College and LLB from [[Saurashtra University]].<ref name="IA2007">{{cite web | title=Vijay Rupani: Member's Web Site | website=Internet Archive | date=30 September 2007 | url=http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201434/http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 September 2007 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=p>{{cite web|title=MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT|url=http://www.govtofficials.com/rajya_name_wiseto.asp?name=VIJAY%20KUMAR%20RAMNIKLAL%20RUPANI|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Indiex2016">{{cite web | title=Vijay Rupani: A swayamsevak, stock broker and founder of a trust for poor | website=The Indian Express | date=6 August 2016 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/vijay-rupani-gujarat-cm-profile-2956811/ | access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="vrnx2016">{{cite web | title=How Vijay Rupani pipped Nitin Patel to become Gujarat chief minister | website=The Times of India | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806042050/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-Vijay-Rupani-pipped-Nitin-Patel-to-become-Gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/53563396.cms | archive-date=6 August 2016 | date=5 August 2016 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-Vijay-Rupani-pipped-Nitin-Patel-to-become-Gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/53563396.cms | access-date=6 August 2016 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>


==Career==
==Early life and student politics==
Vijay Rupani was born on 2 August 1956, in [[Rangoon]], [[Union of Burma]], to a [[Jainism|Jain]] [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] family.<ref name="vrnx2016">{{cite web |date=5 August 2016 |title=How Vijay Rupani pipped Nitin Patel to become Gujarat chief minister |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-Vijay-Rupani-pipped-Nitin-Patel-to-become-Gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/53563396.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806042050/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-Vijay-Rupani-pipped-Nitin-Patel-to-become-Gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/53563396.cms |archive-date=6 August 2016 |access-date= |website=The Times of India }}</ref><ref name="et">{{cite news |date=20 November 2014 |title=Saurashtra strongman Vijay Rupani in Gujarat Cabinet |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-20/news/56304021_1_babku-undhad-cabinet-expansion-state-bjp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127220738/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-20/news/56304021_1_babku-undhad-cabinet-expansion-state-bjp |archive-date=27 November 2014 |access-date= |publisher=Economic Times}}</ref> He was the seventh and youngest son of the couple. In 1960, his family moved to [[Rajkot]], Gujarat, India, due to political instability in Burma. His father, Ramniklal Rupani, who had been a grain merchant in Burma, became a trader of [[ball bearing]]s in Rajkot.<ref name="Indiex2016" />


===Business career===
Vijay Rupani graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] from Dharmendrasinhji Arts College and an [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]] from [[Saurashtra University]]. Active in student politics, Rupani joined the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Hindutva]] [[paramilitary]] organisation, and the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP), a student body affiliated with the RSS.<ref name="vrnx2016" /><ref name="et" /><ref name="Indiex2016">{{cite web |date=6 August 2016 |title=Vijay Rupani: A swayamsevak, stock broker and founder of a trust for poor |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/vijay-rupani-gujarat-cm-profile-2956811/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806165746/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/vijay-rupani-gujarat-cm-profile-2956811/ |archive-date=6 August 2016 |access-date= |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> In 1971, Rupani joined the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], a Hindutva party which served as the political arm of the RSS and the precursor to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2025 |title=Vijay Rupani: How the Rangoon-born came to lead Gujarat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/former-gujrat-vijay-rupani-dies-air-india-crash-london-bound-ahmedabad-airport-abvp-2739829-2025-06-12 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref>
Vijay Rupani is a partner in a trading firm Rasiklal & Sons, founded by his father.<ref name=ie/> He had worked as a stock broker.<ref name=ie/>


===Political career===
==Political career==
[[File:The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat administering oath of office to Shri Vijay Kumar Ramnik Lal Rupani (Gujarat), newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, in New Delhi on April 20, 2006.jpg|thumb|left|The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat administering oath of office to Shri Vijay Kumar Ramnik Lal Rupani (Gujarat), newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, in New Delhi on April 20, 2006]]
[[File:The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat administering oath of office to Shri Vijay Kumar Ramnik Lal Rupani (Gujarat), newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, in New Delhi on April 20, 2006.jpg|thumb|left|Rupani taking the oath of office as a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha]] in 2006, with [[Vice President of India|Vice-president]] [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] administering the oath]]
Vijay Rupani started his career as student activist associated with [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP).<ref name=et/> He joined [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and subsequently joined [[Jan Sangh]] in 1971. He has been associated with [[Bharatiya Janta Party]] since its establishment.<ref name=toi0816/><ref name=et>{{cite news|title=Saurashtra strongman Vijay Rupani in Gujarat Cabinet|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-20/news/56304021_1_babku-undhad-cabinet-expansion-state-bjp|access-date=14 December 2014|publisher=Economic Times|date=20 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="vrnx2016"/> He was imprisoned for 11 months and was sent to the jails in [[Bhuj]] and [[Bhavnagar]] during the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]] in 1976.<ref name=et/><ref name="vrnx2016"/> He was a ''Pracharak'' of RSS from 1978 to 1981. He was elected as a corporator of [[Rajkot Municipal Corporation]] (RMC) in 1987 and became the chairman of drainage committee. He became the chairman of standing committee of RMC from 1988 to 1996. He was again elected to RMC in 1995. He served as the mayor of Rajkot from 1996 to 1997. He became BJP's Gujarat unit general secretary in 1998 and served as the chairman of manifesto committee during chief ministership of [[Keshubhai Patel]]. He was appointed as a chairman of [[Tourism in Gujarat|Gujarat Tourism]] in 2006. He was a member of [[Rajya Sabha]] from 2006 to 2012.<ref name=et/><ref name="vrnx2016"/> He served as BJP's Gujarat unit general secretary four times and chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013 during the chief ministership of [[Narendra Modi]].<ref name="Indiex2016"/><ref name="vrnx2016"/><ref name=bs>{{cite news|title=BJP set to win all 26 Gujarat Lok Sabha seats: Vijay Rupani|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/bjp-set-to-win-all-26-gujarat-lok-sabha-seats-vijay-rupani-114010200001_1.html|access-date=14 December 2014|publisher=Business Standard|date=2 January 2014}}</ref>
Rupani participated in the [[Navnirman Andolan]], a socio-political movement against economic crisis and corruption in the leadup to [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]]. During the Emergency, he was imprisoned for 11 months and held at jails in [[Bhuj]] and [[Bhavnagar]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 June 2025 |title=Who was Vijay Rupani? The 'low-profile' and 'affable' ex-Gujarat CM who died in Air India plane crash |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/who-was-vijay-rupani-the-low-profile-ex-gujarat-cm-who-died-in-air-india-plane-crash-in-ahmedabad-11749737888404.html |website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>


In August 2014, when [[Vajubhai Vala]], the incumbent speaker of [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]], resigned as the MLA from Rajkot West,<ref name=oni>{{cite news|url=http://news.oneindia.in/india/vajubhai-rudabhai-vala-to-take-oath-as-karnataka-governor-on-sept-1-1512186.html|work=One India News|date=30 August 2014|title=Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to take oath as Karnataka Guv on Sept 1|access-date =31 August 2014}}</ref> Vijay Rupani was nominated by the BJP to contest his vacant seat.<ref name=p/> He won the bypoll on 19 October 2014 by a huge margin.<ref name=toi0816/><ref name="Indiex2016"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://wap.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/guj-bypoll-bjp-wins-rajkot-west-assembly-seat-114101900341_1.html|work=Business Standard|date=19 October 2014|access-date=19 October 2014|title=Guj bypoll: BJP wins Rajkot-West Assembly seat|agency=PTI}}</ref>
Having been a member of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] and the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|Jan Sangh]], Rupani was affiliated with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] since its establishment in 1980.<ref name="vrnx2016"/><ref name="et" /> He was elected to the [[Rajkot Municipal Corporation]] in 1987 and served as the mayor of Rajkot from 1996 to 1997.<ref name="Indiex2016" /><ref name=":0" />


He was inducted as minister in the first cabinet expansion by Chief Minister [[Anandiben Patel]] in November 2014<ref name="cabexpand2014">{{cite web| title=Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel expands ministry, inducts 4 new ministers | website=The Indian Express | date=19 November 2014 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-cm-anandiben-patel-expands-ministry-inducts-4-new-ministers/ | access-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> and held the ministry of transport, water supply, labor and employment.<ref name=toi0816/><ref name=et/><ref name="vrnx2016"/>
In 2006, Rupani was made general secretary of BJP's Gujarat state unit, before he was elected as a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha]] from 2006 to 2012, representing Gujarat. He served as a member of the [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly]] from 2014 to 2022, representing [[Rajkot West Assembly constituency|Rajkot West constituency]].<ref name="Indiex2016" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://wap.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/guj-bypoll-bjp-wins-rajkot-west-assembly-seat-114101900341_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=19 October 2014 |title=Guj bypoll: BJP wins Rajkot-West Assembly seat |agency=PTI}}</ref>


On 19 February 2016, Rupani became the state BJP president, replacing [[R. C. Faldu]].<ref name="Indiex2016"/><ref name="vrnx2016"/> He was the BJP state president from February 2016 to August 2016.<ref name="VRprez2016">{{cite web | last=Bureau | first=ET | title=Gujarat BJP declared Vijay Rupani as new president | website=The Economic Times | date=20 February 2016 | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gujarat-bjp-declared-vijay-rupani-as-new-president/articleshow/51053824.cms | access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="JVV2016">{{cite web | last=Online | first=FE | title=Jitu Vaghani appointed as the BJP State President for Gujarat | website=The Financial Express | date=10 August 2016 | url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/jitu-vaghani-appointed-as-the-bjp-state-president-for-gujarat/343343/ | access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref>
He was inducted as a minister in the first cabinet expansion by chief minister [[Anandiben Patel]] in November 2014 and was assigned the state portfolios of Transport, Water Supply, as well as Labour and Employment.<ref name="et" /><ref name="cabexpand2014">{{cite web |date=19 November 2014 |title=Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel expands ministry, inducts 4 new ministers |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-cm-anandiben-patel-expands-ministry-inducts-4-new-ministers/ |access-date=6 August 2016 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> On 19 February 2016, Rupani became the BJP's president in Gujarat, succeeding [[R. C. Faldu]]. He held the position until August 2016.<ref name="VRprez2016">{{cite web | title=Gujarat BJP declared Vijay Rupani as new president | website=The Economic Times | date=20 February 2016 | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gujarat-bjp-declared-vijay-rupani-as-new-president/articleshow/51053824.cms | access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="JVV2016">{{cite web | title=Jitu Vaghani appointed as the BJP State President for Gujarat | website=The Financial Express | date=10 August 2016 | url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/jitu-vaghani-appointed-as-the-bjp-state-president-for-gujarat/343343/ | access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref>


===Chief Minister (2016–2021)===
==Chief Minister of Gujarat (2016–2021)==
{{See also|First Rupani ministry|Second Rupani ministry}}
On 7 August 2016, Rupani was appointed [[Chief Minister of Gujarat|chief minister of Gujarat]] by the [[Organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party|leadership of the BJP]], following the resignation of [[Anandiben Patel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vijay-rupani-to-succeed-anandiben-patel-as-gujarat-cm-nitin-patel-to-be-his-deputy/articleshow/53559478.cms | title=Vijay Rupani to succeed Anandiben Patel as Gujarat CM, Nitin Patel to be his deputy | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=5 August 2016 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Vijay-Rupani-named-Gujarat-chief-minister-Nitin-Patel-to-be-deputy-CM/articleshow/53559312.cms? | title=Vijay Rupani named Gujarat chief minister; Nitin Patel to be deputy CM | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=5 August 2016 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> Rupani led the BJP in the [[2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election]], in which the party retained power, and he continued as chief minister. The BJP's election campaign was characterised by prominent usage of [[Hindutva]] themes and narratives alongside significant [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] rhetoric.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/OCfkWtTitubtJGc0OE8o0L/Gujarat-elections-Chief-minister-Vijay-Rupani-trails-behind.html|title=Gujarat elections: Chief minister Vijay Rupani wins from Rajkot West|agency=PTI|date=18 December 2017|work=Live Mint|access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/elections/gujarat-assembly-elections-2017/bjp-retains-vijay-rupani-in-gujarat-but-is-undecided-in-himachal-4995239/|title=BJP retains Vijay Rupani as CM in Gujarat, but is undecided in Himachal Pradesh|date=23 December 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=23 December 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Ghanshyam |date=13 January 2018 |title=BJP's Sixth Victory in Gujarat: A Puzzle |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2018/2/commentary/bjps-sixth-victory-gujarat.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116165139/https://www.epw.in/journal/2018/2/commentary/bjps-sixth-victory-gujarat.html |archive-date=16 January 2018 |website=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]}}</ref> In March 2021, ''[[The Indian Express]]'' included Rupani in its list of the 100 most powerful people in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2021 |title=IE100: The list of most powerful Indians in 2021 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/ie100-indias-most-powerful-2021-7248171/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328015514/https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/ie100-indias-most-powerful-2021-7248171/ |archive-date=28 March 2021 |access-date= |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>


He succeeded [[Anandiben Patel]] and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 August 2016.<ref name="Firstpost 2016">{{cite web | title=Vijay Rupani sworn-in as the 16th chief minister of Gujarat; Nitin Patel Deputy CM | website=Firstpost | date=7 August 2016 | url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/vijay-rupani-sworn-in-as-the-16th-chief-minister-of-gujarat-nitin-patel-deputy-cm-2940496.html | access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vijay-rupani-to-succeed-anandiben-patel-as-gujarat-cm-nitin-patel-to-be-his-deputy/articleshow/53559478.cms | title=Vijay Rupani to succeed Anandiben Patel as Gujarat CM, Nitin Patel to be his deputy | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=5 August 2016 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Vijay-Rupani-named-Gujarat-chief-minister-Nitin-Patel-to-be-deputy-CM/articleshow/53559312.cms? | title=Vijay Rupani named Gujarat chief minister; Nitin Patel to be deputy CM | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=5 August 2016 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news-hf/GUJ-GNG-unseen-photos-of-gujarat-new-chief-minister-vijay-rupani-gujarati-news-5389556-PHO.html | title=Unseen Photos Of Gujarat New Chief Minister Vijay Rupani | publisher=[[Divya Bhaskar]] | date=5 August 2016 | access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> In the [[2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election]], he retained Rajkot West constituency defeating the [[Indian National Congress]] candidate Indranil Rajyaguru.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/OCfkWtTitubtJGc0OE8o0L/Gujarat-elections-Chief-minister-Vijay-Rupani-trails-behind.html|title=Gujarat elections: Chief minister Vijay Rupani wins from Rajkot West|last=PTI|date=2017-12-18|work=Live Mint|access-date=2017-12-23}}</ref> He was unanimously elected as the leader of legislature party on 22 December 2017 and continued as the Chief Minister of Gujarat with [[Nitin Patel]] as the Deputy Chief Minister.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vijay-rupani-to-stay-gujarat-chief-minister-nitin-patel-his-deputy-says-bjp-1791083|title=BJP Picks Status Quo In Gujarat. Vijay Rupani Stays Chief Minister|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-12-23|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/elections/gujarat-assembly-elections-2017/bjp-retains-vijay-rupani-in-gujarat-but-is-undecided-in-himachal-4995239/|title=BJP retains Vijay Rupani as CM in Gujarat, but is undecided in Himachal Pradesh|date=2017-12-23|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-12-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indtoday.com/vijay-rupani-takes-oath-as-gujarat-cm/|title=Vijay Rupani takes oath as Gujarat CM - INDToday|website=indtoday.com}}</ref> On 11 September 2021, he resigned from the post of Chief Minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/gujarat-chief-minister-vijay-rupani-resigns-4191893.html|title=After Vijay Rupani Stunner, BJP in a Huddle; New Guj CM to Take Oath Monday?|date=11 September 2021}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Bhupendrabhai Patel|Bhupendra Patel]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|title=BJP MLA Bhupendra Patel named new Gujarat chief minister|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-mla-bhupendra-patel-named-new-gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/86138067.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-12|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
Rupani faced intense criticism for his mishandling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]], with Gujarat emerging as one of India's most severely affected states. In April 2021, the [[Gujarat High Court]] remarked that his government's response to the crisis was "not satisfactory and not transparent."<ref>{{Cite web |last=K Dutta |first=Prabhash |date=13 September 2021 |title=Vijay Rupani's road to exit: Why BJP replaced chief minister in Gujarat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vijay-rupani-road-to-exit-why-bjp-replaced-chief-minister-in-gujarat-1852214-2021-09-13 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> On 11 September 2021, Rupani resigned from the post of chief minister.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Langa |first=Mahesh |date=11 September 2021 |title=Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gujarat-chief-minister-vijay-rupani-resigns/article36400410.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911104726/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gujarat-chief-minister-vijay-rupani-resigns/article36400410.ece |archive-date=11 September 2021 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Bhupendrabhai Patel|Bhupendra Patel]], who subsequently led the BJP to a landslide victory in the [[2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=12 September 2021|title=BJP MLA Bhupendra Patel named new Gujarat chief minister|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-mla-bhupendra-patel-named-new-gujarat-chief-minister/articleshow/86138067.cms |access-date=12 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=8 December 2022 |title=Modi's BJP clinches landslide election victory in Gujarat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/08/india-narendra-modi-bjp-landslide-election-victory-gujarat |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>


==Controversy==
Rupani was often characterised by political commentators as a low-profile and obedient figure, with some describing his tenure as that of a 'proxy' or '[[Rubber stamp (politics)|rubber-stamp]]' chief minister. His administration largely continued the policies and governance style of preceding BJP-led governments in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dahiya |first=Himanshi |date=16 September 2021 |title=Vijay Rupani – PM Modi's 'Proxy CM' or a Formidable Political Force in Gujarat? |url=https://www.thequint.com/elections/gujarat-election/5-years-of-vijay-rupani-as-gujarat-chief-minister-analysis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421203153/https://www.thequint.com/elections/gujarat-election/5-years-of-vijay-rupani-as-gujarat-chief-minister-analysis#read-more |archive-date=21 April 2024 |website=[[The Quint]]}}</ref>
In 2011, an entity of a distant relative of Vijay Rupani sold shares worth about {{INR}} 35000 ($500) worth $500 in Sarang Chemicals in a single transaction which were purchased in 2009 at about {{INR}} 63000 , worth $1000, making a loss. The [[SEBI]], the regulator, had charged 22 entities, including Vijay Rupani relative, for "manipulative trades" by [[pump and dump]]. In November 2017, the SEBI issued [[ex parte]] order imposing a penalty of {{INR}} 150000 or $3000 to Vijay Rupani relative for creating misleading appearance in the stocks. Vijay Rupani relative said that the penalty was imposed without giving opportunity to be heard. The SEBI said that the entity had failed to file reply to their [[show cause notice]] in time. Later the Securities Appellate Tribunal set aside the penalty order and asked the SEBI to issue fresh order and hear all the entities. This was the biggest scam of $500 in his career.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/sarang-chemicals-case-sat-asks-sebi-to-hear-all-parties-before-decision-117110901501_1.html|title=SAT asks Sebi to hear all parties before decision in Sarang Chemicals case|last=Choudhary|first=Shrimi|date=2017-11-09|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/195631/sebi-fines-gujarat-cm-rupanis-huf-manipulative-trading/|title=Rupani Case: SAT Asks SEBI to Hear All Parties Before Decision|last=Choudhary|first=Shrimi|website=thewire.in|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/no-wrongdoing-in-transactions-vijay-rupani/article20085839.ece|title=No wrongdoing in transactions: Vijay Rupani|date=2017-11-10|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-11-17|others=Special Correspondent, Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
==Alleged stock manipulation==
Between January and June 2011, 22 entities, including Vijay Rupani [[Hindu joint family|HUF]], bought and sold shares of Sarang Chemicals in an alleged [[Pump and dump|pump-and-dump scam]]. On 27 October 2017, the [[Securities and Exchange Board of India]] (SEBI) imposed penalties on all 22 entities on the charges of [[Circular trading|artificial volume creation]], [[market manipulation]], and "getting an unlawful or unfair gain", in violation of the PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market). Following an investigation, SEBI discovered that the group had bought 27,697,860 shares at 32.97% of the company's market value before selling 72,408,293 shares at 86.18% of the company's market value. SEBI levied fines of {{INR}}6.9 [[crore]]s across all entities, with Rupani HUF being asked to pay {{INR}}15 [[lakh]]s within 45 days of the order. SEBI noted that the order was [[ex parte]] as the entities involved did not respond to the [[Order to show cause|show-cause notice]] within the stipulated time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2017 |title=SEBI imposes penalty on 22 entities including Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's HUF |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/vijay-rupani-sebi-penalty-gujarat-cm-undivided-family-4929279/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109090552/https://indianexpress.com/article/business/vijay-rupani-sebi-penalty-gujarat-cm-undivided-family-4929279/ |archive-date=9 November 2017 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Choudhary |first=Shrimi |date=9 November 2017 |title=Rupani Case: SAT Asks SEBI to Hear All Parties Before Decision |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/business/sebi-fines-gujarat-cm-rupanis-huf-manipulative-trading |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2017 |title=SEBI acts against Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in manipulative trades case, slaps Rs 15 lakh fine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sebi-gujarat-cm-vijay-rupani-trade-hindu-undivided-family-fine-sarang-chemicals-1082646-2017-11-09 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref>
 
Rupani denied any wrongdoing. In his defence, his office alleged that the HUF had purchased shares worth {{INR}}63,000 in 2009 and sold them for {{INR}}35,000 in 2011, thus incurring a loss, not a profit. On 8 November 2017, the [[Securities Appellate Tribunal]] (SAT) set aside the SEBI order, noting that it had been issued without giving a hearing to those involved. No new public hearing or ruling has been announced, effectively closing the case.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2017 |title=Did nothing wrong, says Vijay Rupani as tribunal sets aside SEBI penalty |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/did-nothing-wrong-says-vijay-rupani-as-securities-appellate-tribunal-sets-aside-sebi-penalty-huf-4930480/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109230654/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/did-nothing-wrong-says-vijay-rupani-as-securities-appellate-tribunal-sets-aside-sebi-penalty-huf-4930480/ |archive-date=9 November 2017 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2017 |title=No wrongdoing in transactions: Vijay Rupani |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/no-wrongdoing-in-transactions-vijay-rupani/article20085839.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125122728/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/no-wrongdoing-in-transactions-vijay-rupani/article20085839.ece |archive-date=25 January 2025 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Vijay Rupani is married to Anjali, who is also a member of the BJP women's wing.<ref name=ie/> The couple have a son, Rushabh, who is an engineering graduate, as well as a daughter, Radhika, who is married. The couple lost their youngest son Pujit in an accident and have started the Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust for charity.<ref name=ie/><ref>{{cite news|title=From RSS cadre to CM|url=http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fcontent%2F562977%2Ffrom-rss-cadre-cm.html|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821041056/http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fcontent%2F562977%2Ffrom-rss-cadre-cm.html|archive-date=21 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=રૂપાણીએ 15 વર્ષ પહેલાં રાજકારણ છોડી દીધું હતું, કોણ તેમને પાછું રાજકારણમાં લઈ આવ્યું ? જાણો|url=http://abpasmita.abplive.in/rajkot/meets-rushabh-rupani-son-of-gujarat-cm-vijay-rupani-71989#image6|access-date=20 August 2016|agency=ABP Asmita News|date=7 August 2016}}</ref>
Vijay Rupani was married to Anjali Rupani, a member of the [[BJP Mahila Morcha]], the women's wing of the party. The couple had three children, a daughter named Radhika and two sons named Rishabh and Pujit. The couple lost the latter in a car accident. In his memory, the family founded the Shri Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust, a [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental organisation]] which states that it works for the poor.<ref>{{cite news|title=From RSS cadre to CM|url=http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fcontent%2F562977%2Ffrom-rss-cadre-cm.html|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821041056/http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fcontent%2F562977%2Ffrom-rss-cadre-cm.html|archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaishnavi |first=Arya |date=12 June 2025 |title=Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/vijay-rupani-family-all-on-wife-anjali-rupani-and-their-children-101749735818333.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> A former [[stockbroker]], Vijay Rupani once served as the chairman of the Saurashtra-Kutch Stock Exchange.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dabhi |first1=Parimal |last2=Misra |first2=Leena |date=13 June 2025 |title=Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among those killed in Air India crash, was on his way to London to meet daughter |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/vijay-rupani-air-india-ahmedabad-crash-gujarat-bjp-10063431/ |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>


==See also==
===Death===
* [[Vijay Rupani Ministry]]
{{Main|Air India Flight 171}}
*[[First Vijay Rupani ministry]]
On 12 June 2025, he was among the 241 people who died aboard [[Air India Flight 171]], which was bound for [[Gatwick Airport]] in [[London]]. Shortly after takeoff from [[Ahmedabad Airport|Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport]] in [[Ahmedabad]], the aircraft crashed into a [[Dormitory|hostel block]] of [[B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad|B. J. Medical College]], killing all but one person on board, as well as 19 people on the ground. According to a close relative, he was travelling to London to visit his daughter, and to accompany his wife on the return journey.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 June 2025 |title=Vijay Rupani, ex Gujarat CM, killed in Ahmedabad plane crash |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ahmedabad-plane-crash-former-gujarat-cm-vijay-rupani-killed/article69687495.ece/ |access-date=12 June 2025 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=12 June 2025 |title=Vijay Rupani, ex Gujarat CM, killed in Ahmedabad plane crash |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ahmedabad-plane-crash-former-gujarat-cm-vijay-rupani-killed/article69687495.ece/ |access-date=12 June 2025 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2025 |title=Vijay Rupani Death: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani killed in Ahmedabad plane crash, says CR Paatil |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vijay-rupani-dead-ahmedabad-plane-crash-ex-gujarat-cm-10062657/ |access-date=12 June 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Rupani's body was identified by [[DNA identification|DNA analysis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deshpande |first1=Abhinay |date=15 June 2025 |title=Mortal remains of former Gujarat CM Rupani, over 40 victims identified through DNA profiling; Air India contacts relatives of all victims |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mortal-remains-of-former-gujarat-cm-rupani-over-40-victims-identified-through-dna-profiling-air-india-contacts-relatives-of-all-victims/article69698527.ece |access-date=2025-06-20 |newspaper=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was the second chief minister of Gujarat to die in a plane crash, following [[Balwantrai Mehta]].<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 2025 |title=Air India Crash: 47 Bodies Identified So Far, 24 Handed Over To Families |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/air-india-crash-bodies-identified-handed-over-families-vijay-rupani |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2025 |title=Former CM Vijay Rupani becomes second Chief Minister from Gujarat to die in plane crash |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/air-india-plane-crash-former-cm-vijay-rupani-becomes-second-chief-minister-from-gujarat-to-die-in-plane-crash-balwantrai-11749736666837.html |website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}  
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.vijayrupani.in/en/ Official website]
* {{Official website|http://www.vijayrupani.in/en/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201434/http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 Profile on Rajya Sabha website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201434/http://164.100.24.167:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=2008 Profile] on the official website Rajya Sabha (archived)


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{{s-bef|before=[[Anandiben Patel]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Anandiben Patel]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Chief Ministers of Gujarat|Chief Minister of Gujarat]]|years=7 August 2016 – present}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Chief Ministers of Gujarat|Chief Minister of Gujarat]]|years=2016–2021}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bhupendrabhai Patel]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rupani, Vijay}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rupani, Vijay}}
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Gujarat]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian people imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Indians imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Gujarat]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Ahmedabad municipal councillors]]
[[Category:Ahmedabad municipal councillors]]
[[Category:People from Rajkot]]
[[Category:Gujarat MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:Gujarat MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:Gujarat MLAs 2017–2022]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members]]
[[Category:People from Rajkot]]
[[Category:People from Yangon]]
[[Category:People from Yangon]]
[[Category:Gujarat MLAs 2017–2022]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2025]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in India]]

Latest revision as of 12:28, 28 January 2026


Vijay Rupani
Rupani in 2018
16th Chief Minister of Gujarat
In office
7 August 2016 – 11 September 2021
GovernorOm Prakash Kohli
Acharya Devvrat
Preceded byAnandiben Patel
Succeeded byBhupendrabhai Patel
Cabinet Minister in Gujarat
In office
19 November 2014 – 7 August 2016
Chief MinisterAnandiben Patel
Portfolio
  • Transport
  • Labour and Employment
  • Water Supply
Member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly
In office
19 October 2014 – 8 December 2022
Preceded byVajubhai Vala
Succeeded byDarshita Shah
ConstituencyRajkot West
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
25 July 2006 – 24 July 2012
ConstituencyGujarat
President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Gujarat
In office
February 2016 – August 2016
Preceded byR. C. Faldu
Succeeded byJitu Vaghani
Mayor of Rajkot
In office
1996 – 1997[1]
Preceded byBhavana Joshipura
Succeeded byUday Kangad
Personal details
Born
Vijaykumar Ramniklal Rupani

(1956-08-02)2 August 1956[2]
Rangoon, Rangoon Division, Union of Burma
(present-day Yangon, Myanmar)
Died12 June 2025(2025-06-12) (aged 68)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Cause of deathAircraft accident
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)
Anjali Rupani
(
m. 1980)
Children3

Vijay Ramniklal Rupani (2 August 1956 – 12 June 2025) was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of Gujarat from 5 August 2016 to 11 September 2021 for two consecutive terms. He was a representative in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for the Rajkot West constituency from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was among the passengers who died in the crash of Air India Flight 171.

Early life and student politics[edit | edit source]

Vijay Rupani was born on 2 August 1956, in Rangoon, Union of Burma, to a Jain Bania family.[3][4] He was the seventh and youngest son of the couple. In 1960, his family moved to Rajkot, Gujarat, India, due to political instability in Burma. His father, Ramniklal Rupani, who had been a grain merchant in Burma, became a trader of ball bearings in Rajkot.[5]

Vijay Rupani graduated with a BA from Dharmendrasinhji Arts College and an LLB from Saurashtra University. Active in student politics, Rupani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary organisation, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student body affiliated with the RSS.[3][4][5] In 1971, Rupani joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindutva party which served as the political arm of the RSS and the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[6]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Rupani taking the oath of office as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha in 2006, with Vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat administering the oath

Rupani participated in the Navnirman Andolan, a socio-political movement against economic crisis and corruption in the leadup to the Emergency. During the Emergency, he was imprisoned for 11 months and held at jails in Bhuj and Bhavnagar.[7]

Having been a member of the RSS and the Jan Sangh, Rupani was affiliated with the BJP since its establishment in 1980.[3][4] He was elected to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation in 1987 and served as the mayor of Rajkot from 1996 to 1997.[5][7]

In 2006, Rupani was made general secretary of BJP's Gujarat state unit, before he was elected as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012, representing Gujarat. He served as a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2022, representing Rajkot West constituency.[5][7][8]

He was inducted as a minister in the first cabinet expansion by chief minister Anandiben Patel in November 2014 and was assigned the state portfolios of Transport, Water Supply, as well as Labour and Employment.[4][9] On 19 February 2016, Rupani became the BJP's president in Gujarat, succeeding R. C. Faldu. He held the position until August 2016.[10][11]

Chief Minister of Gujarat (2016–2021)[edit | edit source]

See also: First Rupani ministry and Second Rupani ministry

On 7 August 2016, Rupani was appointed chief minister of Gujarat by the leadership of the BJP, following the resignation of Anandiben Patel.[12][13] Rupani led the BJP in the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election, in which the party retained power, and he continued as chief minister. The BJP's election campaign was characterised by prominent usage of Hindutva themes and narratives alongside significant Islamophobic rhetoric.[14][15][16] In March 2021, The Indian Express included Rupani in its list of the 100 most powerful people in India.[17]

Rupani faced intense criticism for his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Gujarat emerging as one of India's most severely affected states. In April 2021, the Gujarat High Court remarked that his government's response to the crisis was "not satisfactory and not transparent."[18] On 11 September 2021, Rupani resigned from the post of chief minister.[19] He was succeeded by Bhupendra Patel, who subsequently led the BJP to a landslide victory in the 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election.[20][21]

Rupani was often characterised by political commentators as a low-profile and obedient figure, with some describing his tenure as that of a 'proxy' or 'rubber-stamp' chief minister. His administration largely continued the policies and governance style of preceding BJP-led governments in the state.[22]

Alleged stock manipulation[edit | edit source]

Between January and June 2011, 22 entities, including Vijay Rupani HUF, bought and sold shares of Sarang Chemicals in an alleged pump-and-dump scam. On 27 October 2017, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed penalties on all 22 entities on the charges of artificial volume creation, market manipulation, and "getting an unlawful or unfair gain", in violation of the PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market). Following an investigation, SEBI discovered that the group had bought 27,697,860 shares at 32.97% of the company's market value before selling 72,408,293 shares at 86.18% of the company's market value. SEBI levied fines of ₹6.9 crores across all entities, with Rupani HUF being asked to pay ₹15 lakhs within 45 days of the order. SEBI noted that the order was ex parte as the entities involved did not respond to the show-cause notice within the stipulated time.[23][24][25]

Rupani denied any wrongdoing. In his defence, his office alleged that the HUF had purchased shares worth ₹63,000 in 2009 and sold them for ₹35,000 in 2011, thus incurring a loss, not a profit. On 8 November 2017, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) set aside the SEBI order, noting that it had been issued without giving a hearing to those involved. No new public hearing or ruling has been announced, effectively closing the case.[24][26][27]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Vijay Rupani was married to Anjali Rupani, a member of the BJP Mahila Morcha, the women's wing of the party. The couple had three children, a daughter named Radhika and two sons named Rishabh and Pujit. The couple lost the latter in a car accident. In his memory, the family founded the Shri Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust, a non-governmental organisation which states that it works for the poor.[28][29] A former stockbroker, Vijay Rupani once served as the chairman of the Saurashtra-Kutch Stock Exchange.[30]

Death[edit | edit source]

Main article: Air India Flight 171

On 12 June 2025, he was among the 241 people who died aboard Air India Flight 171, which was bound for Gatwick Airport in London. Shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, the aircraft crashed into a hostel block of B. J. Medical College, killing all but one person on board, as well as 19 people on the ground. According to a close relative, he was travelling to London to visit his daughter, and to accompany his wife on the return journey.[31][32][33] Rupani's body was identified by DNA analysis.[34] He was the second chief minister of Gujarat to die in a plane crash, following Balwantrai Mehta.[35][36]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Gujarat CM resigns, all eyes on MLAs' meet to select Pollard's successor". The Economic Times. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Vijay Rupani: Member's Web Site". 30 September 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2016 – via the Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "How Vijay Rupani pipped Nitin Patel to become Gujarat chief minister". The Times of India. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Saurashtra strongman Vijay Rupani in Gujarat Cabinet". Economic Times. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Vijay Rupani: A swayamsevak, stock broker and founder of a trust for poor". The Indian Express. 6 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Vijay Rupani: How the Rangoon-born came to lead Gujarat". India Today. 12 June 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Who was Vijay Rupani? The 'low-profile' and 'affable' ex-Gujarat CM who died in Air India plane crash". Mint. 12 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Guj bypoll: BJP wins Rajkot-West Assembly seat". Business Standard. PTI. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel expands ministry, inducts 4 new ministers". The Indian Express. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Gujarat BJP declared Vijay Rupani as new president". The Economic Times. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Jitu Vaghani appointed as the BJP State President for Gujarat". The Financial Express. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Vijay Rupani to succeed Anandiben Patel as Gujarat CM, Nitin Patel to be his deputy". The Economic Times. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Vijay Rupani named Gujarat chief minister; Nitin Patel to be deputy CM". The Times of India. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "Gujarat elections: Chief minister Vijay Rupani wins from Rajkot West". Live Mint. PTI. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "BJP retains Vijay Rupani as CM in Gujarat, but is undecided in Himachal Pradesh". The Indian Express. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  16. ↑ Shah, Ghanshyam (13 January 2018). "BJP's Sixth Victory in Gujarat: A Puzzle". Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "IE100: The list of most powerful Indians in 2021". The Indian Express. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
  18. ↑ K Dutta, Prabhash (13 September 2021). "Vijay Rupani's road to exit: Why BJP replaced chief minister in Gujarat". India Today.
  19. ↑ Langa, Mahesh (11 September 2021). "Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "BJP MLA Bhupendra Patel named new Gujarat chief minister". The Times of India. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (8 December 2022). "Modi's BJP clinches landslide election victory in Gujarat". The Guardian.
  22. ↑ Dahiya, Himanshi (16 September 2021). "Vijay Rupani – PM Modi's 'Proxy CM' or a Formidable Political Force in Gujarat?". The Quint. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "SEBI imposes penalty on 22 entities including Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's HUF". The Indian Express. 9 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Choudhary, Shrimi (9 November 2017). "Rupani Case: SAT Asks SEBI to Hear All Parties Before Decision". The Wire.
  25. ↑ "SEBI acts against Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in manipulative trades case, slaps Rs 15 lakh fine". India Today. 9 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "Did nothing wrong, says Vijay Rupani as tribunal sets aside SEBI penalty". The Indian Express. 9 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "No wrongdoing in transactions: Vijay Rupani". The Hindu. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025.
  28. ↑ "From RSS cadre to CM". Deccan Herald. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  29. ↑ Vaishnavi, Arya (12 June 2025). "Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children". Hindustan Times.
  30. ↑ Dabhi, Parimal; Misra, Leena (13 June 2025). "Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among those killed in Air India crash, was on his way to London to meet daughter". The Indian Express.
  31. ↑ "Vijay Rupani, ex Gujarat CM, killed in Ahmedabad plane crash". The Hindu. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  32. ↑ "Vijay Rupani, ex Gujarat CM, killed in Ahmedabad plane crash". The Hindu. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  33. ↑ "Vijay Rupani Death: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani killed in Ahmedabad plane crash, says CR Paatil". The Indian Express. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  34. ↑ Deshpande, Abhinay (15 June 2025). "Mortal remains of former Gujarat CM Rupani, over 40 victims identified through DNA profiling; Air India contacts relatives of all victims". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  35. ↑ "Air India Crash: 47 Bodies Identified So Far, 24 Handed Over To Families". TheQuint. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  36. ↑ "Former CM Vijay Rupani becomes second Chief Minister from Gujarat to die in plane crash". Mint. 12 June 2025.

External links[edit | edit source]

Political offices
Preceded by
Anandiben Patel 		Chief Minister of Gujarat
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
Bhupendrabhai Patel
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