SRINAGAR (Feb 8, 2026) – In a rare show of bipartisan camaraderie, members of the ruling National Conference (NC) were seen thumping their desks in appreciation for Devyani Rana, a first-time BJP MLA, even as she delivered a blistering critique of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s ₹1.13 lakh crore budget.
Devyani Rana, the 30-year-old daughter of the late political stalwart Davinder Singh Rana, won the Nagrota by-election in November 2025, a seat left vacant after her father’s sudden passing.
Why the NC MLAs Praised Her
The warmth shown by the Treasury benches wasn’t a nod to her political stance, but rather a gesture of deep personal respect and institutional encouragement:
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The “Legacy” Factor: Her father, Davinder Singh Rana, was a founding pillar of the NC and a close confidant of Omar Abdullah for decades before joining the BJP. Abdullah famously called Rana’s departure the “biggest regret” of his political career.
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Speaker’s Intervention: Before she began, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather explicitly asked the House to encourage the first-time legislator as she made her maiden address.
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Non-Political Rivalry: During the Nagrota by-poll, the NC notably put up only a symbolic fight out of respect for her father, with Omar Abdullah refraining from any personal attacks against her.
Rana’s “Statistical Sting” on the Budget
Despite the friendly reception, Rana’s 12-minute speech was described as “tearing into” the government’s fiscal priorities using hard data:
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Disaster Management Cuts: She flagged that the allocation for disaster relief was slashed by nearly half—from ₹719 crore to ₹350.76 crore—at a time when the Jammu region is reeling from devastating landslides and flash floods.
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Education Crisis: Rana pointed out a ₹193 crore reduction in education funding, questioning how the “child of a poor person” would progress if schools were closed or merged due to budget contractions.
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Welfare Loopholes: She criticized the newly announced “free bus service” for the disabled, noting that current government buses lack basic ramps and accessibility mechanisms.
Key Highlights of Devyani Rana’s Profile
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Education: A University of California (UCLA) Economics graduate.
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Political Rise: Appointed J&K Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) shortly before her electoral win.
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The “3-D” Experience: In a touch of wit, she remarked that while she had watched the last eight budget sessions in “2-D” from the sidelines, participating in “3-D” inside the House was a different responsibility entirely.
