Did Vijay Rupani Have a Deep Connection with Prime Minister Modi?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Vijay Rupani was a significant figure in Gujarat politics.
- He served as Chief Minister from 2016.
- Rupani had a long-standing association with PM Modi.
- The plane crash on June 12 claimed his life.
- His contributions to the BJP were immense.
New Delhi, June 16 (NationPress) The unfortunate plane crash in Ahmedabad resulted in the passing of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, leaving the political landscape in disbelief. The aircraft, which was headed to London from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, had 242 individuals on board, including both passengers and crew.
Vijay Rupani, a prominent figure in Gujarat's political sphere, initiated his political career as a corporator in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation in 1987. Rising from modest beginnings, he held various significant positions—serving as the Mayor of Rajkot, a Rajya Sabha MP, President of the Gujarat BJP, Cabinet Minister, and ultimately becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2016.
Beyond his political endeavors, Rupani had a profound and enduring relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stemming from their early collaborative efforts to bolster the BJP in Gujarat.
“Modi Story,” a well-known social media platform on X, shared a video clip on Monday featuring Vijay Rupani reflecting on their strong friendship and political journey. The caption noted: “Vijay Rupani ji shared a deep and long-standing bond with PM Narendra Modi. Their relationship dates back to the early days of strengthening the Gujarat BJP together. Later, when Modi ji served as Chief Minister, they continued to shape a new Gujarat collaboratively. Rupani ji made a substantial impact during his own tenure as CM.”
In the video, Rupani nostalgically recounted the moments when Narendra Modi contested his first election from the Rajkot constituency, which was later represented by Rupani himself.
“I took on the entire responsibility of managing that election. I oversaw every detail,” he stated.
“It was Narendra Bhai’s inaugural election. Amit Bhai (Amit Shah) also came to Rajkot and stayed for a month to assist me. We managed everything collectively.”
Moreover, he shared an enlightening story about PM Modi’s meticulous nature.
“Every day, Modi ji would contact us from Gandhinagar, inquiring about even the minutest details. I once remarked to Amit Bhai, ‘Why is he worrying about such trivial matters?’ To which Amit Bhai responded with a beautiful analogy: ‘When a tailor is preparing for his own wedding, he meticulously stitches his own coat and examines every stitch. Modi ji has assisted numerous candidates in their elections. Now, for the first time, the tailor is getting married—he’s contesting himself. Naturally, every detail is crucial to him.’”
Tragically, the ill-fated Dreamliner flight marked the abrupt end to this longstanding relationship, as Vijay Rupani was among the 241 passengers aboard the AI-171 flight, who met with a devastating fate in the June 12 incident.
On June 13, Prime Minister Modi visited Vijay Rupani’s family to extend his condolences.
He later expressed on X: “I met with the family of Shri Vijaybhai Rupani Ji. It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is no longer with us. I’ve known him for decades—we worked side by side, even during the most challenging times. He was humble, industrious, and deeply devoted to the Party’s principles.”