How Ludhiana West bypoll altered Rupani's fate: Was to leave with wife on June 5, rescheduled UK visit for campaigning, says Jakhar
Chandigarh: Punjab BJP affairs in-charge and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who was among those killed in a plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, had rescheduled his family visit to the United Kingdom from June 5 to June 12 owing to the Ludhiana West byelection, according to Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar.
"This is very unfortunate. This is how destiny and fate plays out that he came into harm's way. He was to leave along with his wife on June 5, but rescheduled his visit to campaign for Ludhiana West bypoll," Jakhar told TOI. "I believe his wife took the flight on June 5 itself," Jakhar added.
Rupani had campaigned for party candidate Jeewan Gupta for a week. A BJP leader said he went back to Gujarat a couple of days ago, taking a flight from Chandigarh.
Punjab BJP leader Parminder Singh Brar, while mourning the death of Rupani in a Facebook post, said Rupani was "on a solo journey to see his daughter in London. His wife had already arrived on June 5. They were supposed to travel together, but due to the Ludhiana West byelection, he postponed his trip by a week. Fate had different plans…"
Brar added, "We were just together in Ludhiana two days ago. Still, can't come to terms with the fact that he's no longer with us.
A truly wonderful person – compassionate, humble, and radiating warmth. One meeting with him and you'd never forget him."
Punjab BJP state treasurer Gurdev Sharma Debi said, "He campaigned in Ludhiana for over a week. He was so hardworking that after campaigning, he would hold meetings with party leaders and workers which would continue till late night."
Rupani was appointed as Punjab affairs in-charge of BJP in Sept 2022, days before old allies Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP parted ways with each other over now repealed farm laws.
He was all praise for Jakhar when the latter was appointed as Punjab BJP president in July 2023 as the saffron party aimed to increase its mass base in the state.
Mourning Rupani's demise, Jakhar Thursday said, "He was a thorough gentleman, very sober, soft spoken and had no arrogance at all. His demise is a big loss to family, to Gujarat and to the politics as such people are very rare. I have been a big admirer of him and had a great equation with him."
Jakhar also put out a post on X to express grief with the families of plane crash victims. The post read, "The shocking news of Air India plane crash over Ahmedabad with 242 people on board is really heartbreaking. It's painful beyond words. In this sad hour my heart goes to those affected by this tragedy.
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