Vijay Rupani

Vijay Rupani, born on August 2, 1956, in Rangoon (now Yangon), Myanmar, is an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. Rupani began his political journey as a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) before joining the Jan Sangh, which later merged into the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been actively involved in Gujarat’s politics for several decades, holding various key positions within the state.

Rupani entered electoral politics in the 1990s and became a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Rajkot West in 2014. Known for his administrative skills, he rose to the position of Chief Minister of Gujarat in August 2016, succeeding Anandiben Patel. During his tenure, he focused on infrastructure development, industrial growth, healthcare, and social welfare schemes. Some of his key initiatives included the implementation of the Seva Setu Program, aimed at delivering government services directly to citizens, and strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rupani’s term as Chief Minister also saw efforts to boost Gujarat’s economy, attract foreign investment, and improve agricultural policies. He resigned from his position in September 2021, making way for Bhupendra Patel as the new Chief Minister. Rupani continues to be an active member of the BJP and remains influential in Gujarat politics.