Rupani’s soft-spoken image may have been his undoing, say observers

A bachelor of law, Mr. Rupani was a Rajya Sabha member between 2006 and 2012.

Vijay Rupani may have been a soft-spoken chief minister, but political observers feel that it may have also contributed to his image of being a ‘weak’ CM, who allowed bureaucrats to overrule the political leadership in taking key decisions. Some observers also point to the way and economic and social distress that followed it, even suggesting that it may have contributed to his downfall. During his second stint as the CM, Mr. Rupani (65), on Saturday over a year before the next Assembly polls are due, was instrumental in passing tough anti-conversion law against interfaith marriages, and another one against those involved in cow slaughter.