Friday | Jun 27 2025 | 06:45:45 PM
New Delhi, June 17
The tragic Air India plane crash that claimed 241 lives of the passengers on board and 30 others in the city also took away Gujarat's one of the loved politician and former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The identity of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was confirmed through DNA testing, three days after the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. The test results came in at 11:10 am on June 15.
The city of Rajkot bid a heartbroken and teary farewell to their beloved leader where lakhs of citizens thronged on the roads just to have a glimpse of their favourite leader Rupani who was wrapped in the tri colour.
The former CM's last rites were performed with full state honours in the presence of Gujarat chief Minister and other dignitaries. Former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was accorded a 21-gun salute during his last rites, as a mark of respect to the departed leader.
The Ahmedabad civil hospital handed over Rupani's body to the family in the afternoon after which it was flown to Rajkot for the last rites. HM Amit Shah visited Rupani's residence to pay him tributes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, calling it "hard to believe." In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, "I worked for a long time in the organisation with former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani ji. Whether it was strengthening the organisation as the state president or keeping Gujarat's development journey moving as the Chief Minister, Vijaybhai fulfilled every responsibility with full responsibility. It is difficult to believe that he is no longer amongst us."
Shah remembered Rupani as a dedicated leader who always worked with discipline and commitment toward the growth of the party and the state.
He defined him as “Calm and thoughtful by nature, Rupani ji's loyalty and discipline towards the organisation were amazing”.
Rupani's inconsolable family received immense support from the citizens in the city who started gathering from the airport to the cremation ground walking alongwith the vehicle carrying Rupani's body and police security. The city collectively observed a bandh in honour of their favourite Chief Minister and rushed on the road.
The love Rupani earned in Gujarat was credited to his simplicity and humbleness and his eagerness to always stand for his people. Right from his Rashtriya Swayam Sevak days, Rupani was a grounded man who slowly rose to power in Bharatiya Janta Party. His work and dedication towards people made him a people's CM.
Those close to him share that Rupani always had a listening ear to the citizens in Gujarat even when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The citizens used to gather at his residence and offices with their grievances and none left without a solution. It was this mere affection and accountability that he had for the citizens that made him one of the most loved Chief Ministers of Gujarat.
Vijay Rupani, a stalwart of Gujarat politics, began his political journey as a corporator in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation in 1987. From humble beginnings, he steadily rose through the ranks - serving as Mayor of Rajkot, a Rajya Sabha MP, President of the Gujarat BJP, Cabinet Minister, eventually becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2016.
Beyond his political journey, the late Rupani shared a profound and long-standing association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rupani was reportedly like by PM Narendra Modi and played a crucial role in building BJP's growth in Gujarat.
