Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among victims in Air India plane crash

Ahmedabad, June 12: Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed in the tragic Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday. He was 68.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bound for Gatwick Airport in the UK, crashed shortly after takeoff in a civilian area near the city. Air India confirmed that the flight departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38pm with 242 passengers and crew on board. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens.

Vijay Rupani, seated in 2D, was en route to London to visit his daughter. A veteran politician, Rupani served as Gujarat’s 16th Chief Minister from August 2016 to September 2021. He guided the state through a crucial post-Covid phase and was known for his calm leadership and administrative reforms.

During his tenure, he launched the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 and spearheaded several tribal development initiatives. Though he stepped down in 2021 ahead of the state elections, Rupani continued to remain active in party affairs and public service.

Rupani began his political career as a corporator in Rajkot in 1987. He is survived by his wife, Anjali Rupani — a noted social worker — a son and daughter.

The crash has sent shockwaves across political and public circles, with tributes pouring in for the respected leader. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.