About Vijay Rupani:

Rajkot (West) MLA who later became State BJP president and  junior most first-time Cabinet Minister in outgoing Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s government Shri Vijaybhai Rupani is believed national party president Amit Shah’s man. Shah is Vanik so as Vijay Rupani. However Amit Shah is Vaishnav Vanik wile Rupani is Jain Vanik. Rupani became cabinet minister in November 2014 and elected as Gujarat BJP President in February 2016 year. In a unique move, party allowed him to stay as minister and state party president both together. Generally, BJP follows rule of one person, one post at one time. Rupani was elected as Chief Minister by party legislature group along with Nitin Patel as Deputy Chief Minister in August 2016. After general elections of Gujarat Assembly this month, he has been against elected as legislature group head along with Nitin Patel as deputy.

Born in Rangoon in Myanmar Vijaybhai Rupani was active in students wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) when he was student. Vijaybhai was General Secretary of Dharmendrasinh College in Rajkot when Arun Jaitley, Sushil Modi and Rajat Sharma were leading their college campuses elsewhere.

Vijaybhai was jailed during emergency. He was active in BJP at the age of 24.

He became Councillor in Rajkot Municipal Corporation(RMC) in 1987 and became Standing Committee Chairman in RMC for period of 8 years.

He also became Mayor of Rajkot in 1996.

During Keshubhai Patel led BJP government in Gujarat Vijaybhai was appointed head of 20 point implementation committee.

Vijaybhai was later made General Secretary of Gujarat BJP.

In 2006 he became Chairman of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd.

He was elected as member of Rajya Sabha for the period of 2006-2012.

He was appointed Chairman of Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013.

In 2015 he contested by-election of Rajkot West assembly seat and elected as MLA in Gujarat Assembly.

He was made Cabinet Minister in Anandiben Patel led government.

Vijaybhai also runs Pujit trust through which various charity works are done.

Rupani before he became State party president was looking after organizational issues of Saurashtra BJP.

Vijaybhai is father of a son and daughter and husband of Anjali Rupani who also was active in RSS students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP). Jain(minority) Vanik by faith.

Profile in Gujarati

Profile of Shri Vijaybhai Rupani

– DeshGujarat

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