Vijay Rupani, ex Gujarat CM, killed in Ahmedabad plane crash
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was killed in the London-bound Air India plane that crashed near the Ahmedabad airport soon after take-off on Thursday (June 12, 2025).
Union Minister C.R. Patil confirmed the death of the former CM.
He was among the 242 people aboard the ill-fated London-bound Air India I71 flight that crashed minutes after it took off from Ahmedabad. He is the second Gujarat CM to die in a plane crash.
Rupani had taken over as the Chief Minister in August 2016 after the sudden resignation of the then CM Anandiben Patel. He stepped down in 2021, paving way for Bhupendra Patel to take over as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Seen as Amit Shah's protégé, Rupani was a first time MLA from Rajkot West when he took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was serving as State BJP president and a State Minister when the central leadership named him as Ms. Patel's successor.
Rupani's public life started with his association with RSS' student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He has been with the BJP since its inception in 1980. As a pracharak of RSS, he was jailed for his opposition to the Emergency.
He served as a Rajya Sabha member between 2006 and 2012.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Vijay Rupani re-scheduled his London visit from June 5 to 12 due to Ludhiana (West) by-elections
CHANDIGARH: Former Chief Minister of Gujarat and Punjab Affairs-in-charge of BJP Vijay Rupani, who was among the 241 passengers killed in the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, has been involved in Punjab politics for the last three years. In fact, he re-scheduled his visit to London from June 5 to June 12 due to the Ludhiana (West) by-elections. The constituency goes to polling on June 19, and the result will be announced on June 23. Rupani was specifically brought by the saffron party to take charge of the state in September 2022 after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ended its alliance with the BJP. During this time, BJP's electoral performance improved. The party's vote share rose to 18.56 per cent from 6.6 percent in last year's parliamentary elections. Under his leadership, the party had been taking on the AAP-led Punjab Government over many issues, including the law and order and the drug menace. State BJP leadership described him as an ``acceptable, humble and down-to-earth human being' who deeply connected with the people across all levels of the state administration. He had planned to travel to London on June 5 to meet his daughter but his travel plans were delayed due to the Ludhiana (west) by-election. His wife, Anjali Rupani, had already left for London on June 5. The state party leaders recalled that Rupani was campaigning for the upcoming Ludhiana West assembly bypoll for weeks and had been diligently carrying out his responsibilities, including attending the filing of nomination papers by the party candidate Jiwan Gupta on June 2 from Ludhiana (West). On June 9, he had exuded confidence that Gupta would win the bypoll with a huge margin. Known as a protégé of Amit Shah, Rupani was a first-time MLA from Rajkot (West) when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
'Feels Unreal That He's No Longer With Us': Vijay Rupani's Kolkata-Based Cousin To News18
Last Updated: Rupani, who served as the chief minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021, was among the people killed in the Ahmedabad Air India crash on Thursday Among the casualties of Thursday's horrific Air India crash in Ahmedabad was former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, leaving his family and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in deep sorrow. Vijay Rupani's cousin, Vipul Rupani, who resides in Kolkata, spoke exclusively with CNN-News18, expressing his shock and grief. 'We first heard about the crash on TV news. Initially, we couldn't believe it. We then reached out to the family, and it was devastating to have it confirmed. Some family members have already left for Ahmedabad, and we'll be going shortly. There are a lot of formalities to take care of," he said, visibly shaken. Vipul fondly remembered Vijay Rupani as the pillar of their family, highlighting his warmth and generosity. 'He was like an elder brother to all of us—always helpful and cordial. Just last year, he visited Kolkata and spent more than three hours with us. We had such a wonderful time together. He was truly a gentleman and deeply committed to social work." The London-bound Air India flight, AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. In an early morning post on X at 12.41 am on Friday, Air India confirmed that 241 people had perished in the crash. A police official told news agency PTI that 265 bodies had been brought to the civil hospital. The plane had crashed into the mess area of a medical college hostel, causing what appears to be at least two dozen fatalities on the ground. Expressing his profound grief, Vipul added, 'We really don't know how we'll come to terms with this. It feels unreal that he's no longer with us." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met the family of the former Gujarat CM in Ahmedabad. 'It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is not in our midst. I've known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party's ideology. Rising up the ranks, he held various responsibilities in the Organisation and went on to serve diligently as Gujarat's Chief Minister," PM Modi said in a post on X. Rupani served as the chief minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021, before resigning ahead of the 2022 state elections. First Published: June 13, 2025, 17:36 IST
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Top 5 news of the day: Trump issues stern warning to Iran after Israel strikes; black box of ill-fated AI-171 recovered & more
As tensions rose in the Middle East, Israel struck Iran and US President Trump warned Tehran to accept a nuclear deal or face harsher attacks. Black box was recovered from the deadly Ahmedabad crash site was recovered from the rooftop of a building. Meanwhile, India and China held talks in Delhi to boost ties through travel, trade, and cultural cooperation amid ongoing tensions. Here are top 5 stories that made headlines today: Donald Trump warns Iran of major attacks ahead US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, urging it to agree to a nuclear deal or face harsher consequences. His remarks came just hours after Israeli airstrikes killed key Iranian military leaders and scientists. Trump, writing on Truth Social, claimed he gave Tehran multiple chances, but the hardliners are "all dead now.' He further cautioned that the next wave of planned attacks would be far more destructive. Read full story here Flight data recorder recovered from rooftop at the Ahmedabad crash site The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the black box from the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner was found on a building rooftop, after the deadly crash in Ahmedabad. British high commissioner Lindy Cameron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the wake of the tragedy that killed 241 people on board. The flight, AI171, was en route to London Gatwick when it went down on June 12. Follow more updates here. How Israel carried out covert strikes deep inside Iran? Israel, on Friday, launched a major military offensive on Iran's capital. The coordinated strikes killed several top Iranian military commanders and six nuclear scientists. According to the IDF, the operation included preemptive precision attacks targeting individuals involved in Iran's nuclear weapons development, its ballistic missile programme, and the Natanz uranium enrichment site. Read full story here. India China bilateral ties: Talks in process to resume direct flights, relax visa process India and China resumed high-level discussions aimed at improving bilateral ties, with foreign secretary Vikram Misri meeting Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong in New Delhi. Talks focused on resuming direct flights, easing visa processes, and facilitating pilgrimages, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Both sides also discussed cooperation on trans-border rivers and trade supply chains, especially regarding rare earth exports. Read full story here. Assam CM Himanta Sarma issues shoot-at-sight order in Dhubri after temple desecration Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma authorised shoot-at-sight orders in Dhubri following a communal flare-up where cow meat was allegedly thrown at a Hanuman temple during Eid. Calling it a 'disgusting and condemnable crime,' Sarma visited the site and ordered strict action against the culprits. He said those who desecrate religious spaces will not be spared, and if needed, he would personally guard the temple. Read full story here.
