BJP MLA Devender Rana passes away in NCR hospital

Senior BJP leader and Nagrota MLA, Devender Singh Rana, passed away on Thursday in Faridabad at age 59. Brother to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Rana was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Haryana. His untimely death has left behind his wife, Gunjan Rana, and children Devyani, Ketki, and Adhiraj Singh.

Upon hearing the news, numerous mourners, including political figures, gathered at Rana’s home in Gandhinagar, Jammu. Union Minister Jitendra Singh quickly joined family and friends to grieve.

Rana’s journey from business to politics was notable. Starting with a multi-crore business in automobile sales, he founded Jamkash Vehicleades and a local cable channel, becoming a significant entrepreneur in Jammu. His Dogra heritage and commitment to Jammu’s issues strengthened his political career.

Rana originally served the National Conference (NC) as a Provincial President and political advisor to Omar Abdullah. In 2008, he made headlines by securing the Nagrota seat, defeating BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma. After Article 370 was abrogated, he advocated for the “Jammu Declaration” and the restoration of statehood for Jammu. In 2021, he joined the BJP, solidifying his position in J&K’s political landscape.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and former CM Mehbooba Mufti expressed their condolences, honoring Rana as a committed leader for J&K. Other prominent figures, like Ghulam Ahmed Mir, praised his dedication to his region.

Rana’s passing marks the loss of a strong voice for Jammu, particularly the Dogra and Gujjar communities, and a legacy of political resilience and community service.