Devender Singh Rana, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nagrota, passed away on Thursday night at a hospital in Delhi.
Devender Singh Rana, a well-known BJP leader and Nagrota Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), died Thursday night in a Delhi hospital, leaving a gap in Jammu and Kashmir’s commercial and political communities. The political and business communities in the area have been gravely disturbed by the revelation, which has been verified by family sources.
In addition to his political clout, Rana was well-known for his prosperous commercial endeavors, especially as the proprietor of the large car dealership JamKash Vehicleades. His outstanding net worth of over Rs 123 crore gained him the distinction of being one of the wealthiest candidates in Jammu due to his position in the business world.
Rana’s recent electoral triumph in Nagrota was historic, as he took the seat with a record-breaking margin, strengthening his standing within the Bharatiya Janata Party. Because of his popularity and leadership, he was even considered as a serious candidate for the position of leader of the BJP Legislative Party, which demonstrated how highly regarded he was inside the organization.
Rana, who was born in the Doda district, had a varied work path. Before going into politics, he was well-known for his business sense and soon rose to prominence in the BJP. His contributions have had a lasting impact on Jammu and Kashmir in both areas.
It is anticipated that Rana’s body would be returned to Jammu tonight, and on Friday, it will be cremated. Leaders from all political parties have expressed their condolences for the loss of such a well-known person, recognizing his influence and legacy.
A top BJP leader claimed that Rana was receiving medical care at the hospital. His son Adhiraj Singh, his wife Gunjan Rana, and their daughters Ketki and Devyani survive him. Hundreds of people, including political figures, flocked to Rana’s home in the Gandhinagar neighborhood of Jammu as word of his passing spread. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister, also hurried to his residence.
Devender Rana’s Early Life
He was born in 1965 into a Dogra family in the Doda area of Jammu. His brother was Union Minister Jitendra Singh, and his father was former bureaucrat Rajinder Singh Rana. Rana entered the business world by starting his own car firm after graduating from NIT Kurukshetra with a degree in civil engineering. He became a leading entrepreneur in Jammu and Kashmir by spearheading the development of a cable TV channel and the multi-crore Jamkash Vehicleades Group.
As a prominent strategist and counselor, Rana started his political career with the National Conference (NC), growing the party’s support in Jammu as Provincial President. He was an important contributor to the development of party tactics in Jammu as a dependable adviser to Omar Abdullah. Rana ran from the BJP-held Nagrota assembly segment in his first attempt to win the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, defeating three-time MP Jugal Kishore Sharma of the BJP.
Results of the 2024 J&K Election: Five Reasons Why the Congress-NC Partnership Beat the BJP in “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” This triumph demonstrated his capacity to engage a wide range of voters. Prior to this, he was an MLC and, since 2009, the Provincial President of NC.
Rana became an outspoken supporter of the Jammu Declaration following the repeal of Article 370, advocating for the return of statehood for the Jammu area in particular. The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, a coalition that aims to restore Article 370 and statehood for the whole Jammu and Kashmir area, disagreed with his position.
After serving with the NC for more than 20 years, Rana quit and joined the BJP in October 2021. He was well-known in J&K politics, especially for the BJP, because of his strong ties to the local community and his deep origins in the Jammu area.
