Devender Singh Rana passes away

Jammu, Oct 31: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MLA Nagrota, Devender Singh Rana passed away late Thursday evening.

He was 59.

Rana, as per party sources, breathed his last in a Delhi hospital where he was admitted for the past couple of days.

“Just four days back, we were together in a meeting of the BJP Core Group in Jammu. He was comfortable and did not show any signs of unease. His sudden passing away is a shocking and irreparable loss for all of us,” said BJP Chief Spokesperson Sunil Sethi.

Rana, the younger brother of the Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, in the recently concluded assembly elections, created waves by winning the Nagrota assembly segment with the highest margin of 30472 votes, defeating National Conference’s Joginder Singh. He had won this seat earlier in 2014, resisting the strong Modi wave, as a National Conference candidate.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

As per family sources, his mortal remains will be brought to Jammu and his last rites will be performed on Friday.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior J&K leaders across the political spectrum have expressed shock and grief over his sudden demise.

Considered to be a trusted lieutenant of Omar Abdullah, he joined the BJP in October 2021 and managed to retain his seat with a record margin. This had brought him as a frontrunner to be named as BJP Legislature Party leader.

Known as an affable, compassionate individual, Rana, as a multifaceted personality, had carved a niche for himself as a witty, intelligent politician, who had friends cutting across political affiliations.

Born in Doda to Rajinder Singh Rana, who retired as Chief Engineer, Devender Singh Rana’s successful and eventful journey from an Engineering Graduate to a successful entrepreneur owning a multi-crore company (Jamkash Vehicleades Group) and then an equally influential politician was exemplary as well as enviable.

As a proponent of “Jammu Declaration”, he created flutters in the political landscape of J&K as he emerged as a strong voice of the Jammu region. He wielded influence, both in the Hindu and Muslim communities of his constituency, given his secular persona. His death has been widely condoled in social and political circles across J&K and beyond.

LG Sinha, while sharing his grief, wrote, “I’m deeply grieved to learn of the untimely demise of Shri Devender Singh Rana Ji. In his passing away, 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 & friends. Om Shanti.”

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti too expressed her shock over the sudden demise of Devender Rana, while sharing her “condolences to his family and loved ones.”

“Deeply saddened and shocked over the passing of MLA Devender Singh Rana. My heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the deceased. Having interacted with him in politics and beyond that, Rana was a great, supportive and visionary leader, an entrepreneur, whose business acumen provided opportunities to many in J&K. May God’s grace and strength be upon his family and friends as we mourn this great leader of J&K,” senior Congress leader and former minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said in his condolence note.

Condoling his demise, People’s Conference (PC) President and former minister Sajad Gani Lone posted on microblogging site X: “Extremely sad news coming in. Devinder Singh Rana is no more. It is hard to believe that a great human being and an even greater friend is no more. He was so full of life. My thoughts with the bereaved family at this terrible, irreplaceable loss. May they muster the courage and strength to bear this loss.  May the departed soul rest in peace.”

National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq also condoled his demise and posted on X: “Shocked to hear about the sudden passing of Devender Rana ji. I had the chance to work with him and shared some good moments together.  My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace!”