Family of Late BJP Leader Devender Rana Calls on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu

Jammu, April 7: The family members of late BJP leader and former MLA Devender Singh Rana met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Monday during the latter’s visit to the Union Territory. The meeting was held in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, according to official sources.

Devender Rana, 59, had passed away in October last year at a private hospital in Faridabad, Haryana, following a prolonged illness. His demise came just weeks after he emerged victorious in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections from the Nagrota constituency. Notably, Rana had previously served as a National Conference (NC) legislator from the same constituency in 2014 before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021, marking a significant political shift in the region.

The Home Minister met Rana’s widow, Gunjan Rana, and their daughters, Devyani and Ketki, during the emotional interaction at the Governor’s residence. The late leader’s son, Adhiraj Singh, did not accompany the family on this occasion.

Sources indicate that Devyani Rana, who was recently appointed as the Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in Jammu and Kashmir, is being considered as the party’s potential candidate from the Nagrota constituency in the upcoming elections. The seat has remained vacant since the passing of Devender Rana, and political observers believe the BJP may opt for a legacy-driven candidacy by fielding Devyani, who has shown early signs of active political involvement.

The meeting comes at a politically significant moment, as Amit Shah concluded his three-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir, which included several high-level security and political briefings. After wrapping up his engagements in Jammu, Shah left for Srinagar later in the evening.