Vijay Rupani: Mr neutral

Vijay Rupani, who turns 60 on Tuesday, might get a surprise gift. Speculation is rife that he is one of the top contenders for the CM's post, after Anandiben Patel said she wanted to quit as the Gujarat chief minister.

Rupani was made president of Bhartiya Janta Party's Gujarat unit in February. His appointment, insiders said, was delayed by almost a month owing to differences between Anandiben Patel and BJP President Amit Shah.

He replaced the Leuva Patidar leader, R C Faldu, and his appointment came at a time when the party was facing serious challenges from the community. The appointment was seen as a mark of confidence the BJP brass had on the leader from the Baniya community.

A Jain Baniya, Rupani does not belong to one of the majority communities in the state; Jains make up only one per cent of Gujarat's population while Baniyas comprise three per cent. The BJP selected a non-other backward classes and non-Patel leader at the helm to avoid a tricky political situation, sources said. Many see Rupani as an Amit Shah confidante. Hence, his appointment hinted at the latter's increased indirect control of the state unit, where rumours of factionalism are rife.

Rupani was a Cabinet minister with portfolios such as transport and labour & employment. As Gujarat party president, Rupani was required to consolidate the cadre amid challenges such as the Patidar reservation agitation.

Also, given the party's poor performance in rural areas during the recent local body polls, Rupani's role was deemed to be crucial in maintaining and improving on the party's prospects in the upcoming Assembly elections in December 2017.

Rupani has also been the party's general secretary and was an active member of the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Born to Ramniklal Rupani in 1956, Vijay holds a bachelor of arts and a LLB degree.

He started his political career as a student activist, and eventually joined the RSS and thereafter the Jan Sangh in 1971. He is the only minister in the state Cabinet to have been jailed during the Emergency.

Rupani is known to have Narendra Modi's support and in August 2014, when Vajubhai Vala, the incumbent speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly, resigned as the MLA from Rajkot West, Rupani was nominated by the BJP to contest his vacant seat. He won the be-poll in October 2014 by a handsome margin

He is married and has a daughter and a son.