Jitu Vaghani
Quick Facts
Biography
Born in a modest farmer family in October 27, 1970 in a tiny village Vartej of Bhavnagar district in Saurashtra, Jitendra Savjibhai Vaghani’s ascendance to the present coveted post of Gujarat State BJP president is phenomenon. His political journey is marked with grit, self-confidence and strong determination since his childhood. He is the youngest among all other BJP chiefs of any State Unit of the country.
Early Life
His father Savjibhai Vaghani was a manager in Land Development Bank. He imbibed in him the cultural values, integrity and sense of patriotism and nationalism from his father and mother Manjulaben, a simple housewife. Jitendra Vaghani received his Bal Mandir education at Vallabhipur village in Bhavnagar district, secondary education from Kavi Kalapi Vinay Mandir High School at Lathi in Amreli District and Higher Secondary Education from Bhavnagar’s Sanatan Dharma High School. Later, he attained B Com and LL B degrees from Bhavnagar University.
Political career
Vaghani began his political journey since his association with ABVP in 1988 and had been elected a Senate Member of Bhavnagar University in 1992. This State party leadership entrusted him the responsibility of BJP’s Bhavnagar City Yuva Morcha president in 1993-97. During this five-year tenure, he was also appointed a member of the Primary Education Samiti of Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation.
The BJP Gujarat government appointed him as Director of Gujarat Housing Board (1998-2001). State leadership of Party entrusted vaghani with responsibility of Gujarat BJP Yuva Morcha president in 2003. Vaghani held this post for two consecutive terms (2003-2009). During this tenure, he successfully organized Kisan Hit Yatra, Swami Vivekananad Yatra and Kranti Gatha Yatra across Gujarat. This prompted his party leadership to appoint him Secretary of the State BJP (2009-2012). Besides he was appointed an in-charge of Jamnagar City District organization of the party.
Vaghani entered electoral politics by unsuccessfully contesting Gujarat legislative assembly election, 2007 from Bhavnagar city south assembly constituency against senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil. He lost by margin of over seven thousand votes.
In 2012, Vaghani contested from Bhavnagar (West) Assembly seat, and this time he was successful, winning his seat with highest margin in the entire Saurashtra region.
Vaghani was appointed as president BJP's Gujarat state unit in November 2016 following previous president Vijay Rupanis appointment as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Electoral history
Year | Post | Constituency | Party | Opponent | Election | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | M.L.A | Bhavnagar south | BJP | Shaktisinh Gohil | Gujarat twelfth assembly election | Lost |
2012 | M.L.A | Bhavnagar pashchim | BJP | Mansukhbhai Kanani | Gujarat thirteenth assembly election | Won |
Personal Life
He is completely vegetarian and has immense faith in God. Known in his society as soft-spoken and affable and ever ready to help the needy, Jitendra Vaghani loves nature and the issue of environment is very close to his heart. He is always with the Truth and always ready to fight against injustice without any fear. He has a faithful and supportive wife Sangeeta, and son Meet and daughter Bhakti.