SRINAGAR: Business tycoon and BJP politician Devender Singh Rana has passed away in Faridabad near 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 Pary leader within a few days. He died before that. In the 2014 assembly elections, he was the richest contestant by his own declaration.
I am honoured and privileged to be sworn in as an MLA of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and to serve as a legislator for the fourth time. I want to thank Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji for her blessings.
I am humbled by the mandate given to me by my constituency and the… pic.twitter.com/Jl1re3MD59
— Devender Singh Rana (@DevenderSRana) October 21, 2024
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.
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.
Politically, Rana joined the JK National Conference and was a close confidant of Omar Abdullah. During his last term as Chief Minister, he was Omar’s political adviser as well. He was the Provincial President of JKNC till he switched over to BJP. An impressive orator, Rana was one of the few politicians from Jammu who would converse with any kind of audience.
Originating from Jammu’s Doda district, Rana first gained recognition as a successful entrepreneur by founding the Jamkash Vehicleades group literally from scratch. His shift to politics began with the National Conference (NC), where he rose to prominence as an adviser to Omar Abdullah and Provincial President.
Rana was the son of former bureaucrat Rajinder Singh Rana and the brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Former Chief Secretary SS Baloria was his father-in-law.
After graduating in Civil Engineering from NIT Kurukshetra, he ventured into business by founding his own automobile company.
Rana’s first significant political victory was winning the Nagrota assembly seat for the NC in a traditionally BJP stronghold, a testament to his cross-community appeal. His advocacy for a Dogra chief minister and the Jammu Declaration, aiming for regional empowerment and the restoration of statehood for Jammu, solidified his standing in local politics. After leaving the NC in October 2021, he joined the BJP, where he continued championing regional causes. Known for his rapport with both Hindu and Muslim communities, particularly the Gujjars, Rana has become a central figure in Jammu’s political landscape.
Rana registered the highest winning margin, 30472 votes, against his nearest NC rival, Joginder Singh, who polled 17641 votes, in the 2024 assembly elections. He took the oath of office as an MLA on October 21, exactly 10 days before his demise in Delhi NCR.
The late Devender Singh Rana had declared assets worth over Rs 46.83 crore in movable and immovable holdings, while his spouse’s assets were valued at Rs 76.73 crore. In his affidavit for the assembly elections, Rana had listed Rs 9.13 crore in movable assets, which included bank deposits, investments, and shares in companies such as JAMKASH Vehicleades, Pathankot Vehicleades, Take One Television, JAMKASH Biking Pvt Ltd, JAMKASH Foods and Hospitalities, and gold. His immovable assets included agricultural land valued at Rs 1.8 crore in Malore, Doda; non-agricultural land in Sunjawan (Rs 18 crore), Channi Himmat (Rs 13 crore), Sidhra (Rs 2 crore), and Hyderpora, Srinagar (Rs 1 crore); a commercial building on B.C. Road in Jammu (Rs 60 lakh); and residential properties in Greater Noida, Pathankot, and other locations. Together, the couple’s net worth had exceeded Rs 123 crore.
Rana is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Condolences are pouring in. “Shocked to hear about the sudden passing of Devender Rana ji. I had the chance to work with him and share some good moments together. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace!,” JKNC MLA and chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq wrote on Twitter. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti wrote: “Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Devinder Rana ji. Deepest condolences to his family & loved ones.”
