Wealthiest Candidate in J&K Elections: Devender Rana Leads Jammu Assembly Race as Richest Candidate with Combined Family Assets Exceeding Rs 123 Crore

JAMMU, Sept 12: Devender Singh Rana, the BJP candidate from the Nagrota Assembly constituency, emerges as the wealthiest contender in Jammu division for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. A former MLA and successful businessman-turned-politician, Rana boasts an impressive portfolio of assets totaling over Rs 46.83 crore. His spouse contributes significantly to their combined net worth, with her assets valued at Rs 76.73 crore.

According to the affidavit filed alongside his nomination papers, Rana’s movable assets amount to Rs 9,13,18,837. This includes bank deposits, investments, and shares in various companies such as JAMKASH Vehicleades, Pathankot Vehicleades, Take One Television, JAMKASH Biking Pvt Ltd, JAMKASH Foods and Hospitalities, and J&K Bank Ltd, along with gold holdings.

Rana’s immovable assets are equally substantial, featuring agricultural land valued at Rs 1.8 crore in Malore, Doda; non-agricultural land in Sunjawan (Rs 18 crore), Channi Himmat (Rs 3 crore + Rs 10 crore), Sidhra (Rs 2 crore), Hyderpora, Srinagar (Rs 1 crore), a commercial building at B C Road, Jammu (Rs 60 lakh), and residential properties in Greater Noida, Pathankot, and other locations.

Together with his spouse’s assets, the total net worth of the Rana family surpasses Rs 123 crore. Devender Rana holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from NIT Kurukshetra.

Other notable candidates with significant wealth include former minister Chander Parkash Ganga (BJP) from Vijaypur, with assets valued at Rs 19 crore; Rajiv Jasrotia (BJP) from Jasrota, with Rs 13.88 crore; and Vikram Randhawa (BJP) from Bahu, with Rs 12 crore. BJP candidates Surjeet Singh Slathia (Samba) and Rajiv Sharma (Akhnoor) have assets of Rs 12.39 crore and Rs 3 crore respectively. Yudhvir Sethi (BJP) from Jammu East holds Rs 5.32 crore in assets.

Congress candidates also feature prominently, with Raman Bhalla from Jammu South (R.S. Pura) possessing Rs 4.6 crore; Yogesh Sawhney from Jammu East with Rs 4.5 crore; and Choudhary Lal Singh from Basohli at Rs 1.75 crore. Other Congress candidates include Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar) with Rs 2.48 crore, and Mula Ram (Marh) with Rs 90 lakh.

Independent candidates with noteworthy assets include Mohan Lal Kaith from Marh (Rs 1.65 crore) and Taranjit Singh Tony from Bahu (Rs 7 crore). BJP rebel and Independent candidate Pawan Khajuria from Udhampur East holds Rs 2 crore, while Sumit Magotra (Congress) from Udhampur West has Rs 3 crore.

Among less prominent candidates, Neeraj Kundan (Congress) from Bishnah has assets worth Rs 32.28 lakh, and Rajesh Pargotra (National Conference) from Vijaypur holds Rs 1.34 crore. PDP candidate Darshan Kumar Magotra from Jammu North has Rs 1.12 crore in assets.