JAMMU: The BJP on Tuesday announced another list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, taking the total number of seats on which it has announced its candidates to 45. In its latest list, the party has nominated Devender Singh Rana as its candidate for Nagrota constituency, his stronghold. A three-time legislator, Rana as per a BJP leader, is known for his humble and approachable demeanor, making him a popular mass leader with influence across Jammu and Kashmir. Over the years, he has effectively nurtured and developed the Nagrota constituency, earning the trust and support of all sections of society, said the leader. He enjoys support of Muslim and Gujjar community in Jammu and Kashmir, he added. Rana, who is the proponent of the Jammu Declaration – a roadmap for an inclusive Jammu and Kashmir, quit Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) three years ago. He had won from Hindu-majority Nagrota assembly seat of Jammu in 2014 on a National Conference ticket. He also served as political advisor to Omar Abdullah when the latter was the chief minister of J&K. His entry into BJP was met with overwhelming enthusiasm by the people of the region, further solidifying his position as a key political figure in Jammu and Kashmir. His nomination from Nagrota is seen as a strategic move by the BJP, given his deep roots and widespread acceptance in the constituency.
