Srinagar- Business tycoon and BJP politician Devinder Singh Rana has passed away in Delhi, sources close to the family said. He was 59.
Rana, the founder of JamKash Vehicleads, had won the Nagrota assembly seat with the highest margin ever and was expected to be the Legislative Party leader within a few days.
Rana was not well for a long time and had lost a lot of weight in the last six months. He had undergone a procedure in the recent past also.
Devender Rana has had an interesting journey in politics. He won the Nagrota assembly constituency in Jammu district in December 2014 on a National Conference ticket, the lone candidate from the party to score a victory in the region then
Brother of Jitendra Singh, Union MoS in the PMO, Rana was once a close associate of Omar Abdullah. But he quit NC in 2021.
Rana won the Nagrota seat in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024 by defeating his closest rival, Joginder Singh of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), by 30,472 votes.
In the 2014 assembly elections, he was the richest contestant by his own declaration.
Rana was an inspirational entrepreneur who single-handedly changed the personal car market in Jammu and Kashmir and emerged as the top car seller in north India from the Maruti stable. He also founded the TakeOne TV in Jammu that, unlike its Kashmir chapter, is still running.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed shock and grief over Rana’s sudden demise. “In his passing, we have lost a patriotic and widely respected leader who was committed to the well-being of the people of J&K. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” the LG’s office posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary also expressed condolences. “This news is especially disheartening on an auspicious day (Diwali). My condolences are extended to his family and PMO @DrJitendraSingh ji on the loss of his younger brother. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti,” Choudhary wrote on X.
PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also offered her condolences. “Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Devender Rana Ji. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” Mufti said on X.
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP said his demise is a great loss to the party and to the people of J&K. “His contribution and dedication to society will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace, and may God provide strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss,” the party posted on X.
Congress National General Secretary and MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir expressed his shock and sorrow over Rana’s death.
“My heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of the deceased. Having interacted with him in politics and beyond, Rana was a great, supportive, and visionary leader, an entrepreneur whose business acumen created opportunities for many in J&K,” Mir wrote on X.
Other political leaders including Sajad Lone, Junaid Matoo, Sunil Sharma, Tarun Chugh, Sham Lal Sharma, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali also offered their condolences on Rana’s passing.
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