Ranchi, Sep 6 (PTI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and minister Sudivya Kumar died of cardiac arrest early on Sunday at the age of 56, which leaders across party lines mourned as the loss of a “precious star” of state politics.
He was admitted to a private hospital in his hometown, Giridih, around 2.30 am after he complained of uneasiness, and doctors declared him dead around 4 am, officials said. He is survived by his wife Shweta Sharma, two daughters and a son.
The two-term MLA from Giridih held several key portfolios, including Higher and Technical Education, Urban Development and Housing, Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Sports and Youth Affairs.
A trusted confidant of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and one of the political troubleshooters of the JMM, Kumar played a pivotal role in helping the party navigate some of its most challenging moments — from Soren’s arrest to election campaigns, seat-sharing negotiations and the recent student unrest.
Mourning Kumar’s death, Soren described his close aide as an elder-brother figure who had stood by him during difficult phases of his political life.
“The strong pillar of Jharkhandiyat — Sonu Bhaiya — will remain forever ageless and immortal. Humble tribute,” said the chief minister, who attended the last rites of the leader at his native place at Harsinghraidih in Giridih district.
Recalling Kumar’s association with the Jharkhand movement, Soren said he had stood with “full devotion and strength” alongside JMM founder late Shibu Soren and devoted his life to the struggle for the state’s identity, rights and pride.
JMM described Kumar’s death as an “irreparable loss” to the party, the government and Jharkhand, saying the organisation was “stunned and heartbroken” by the untimely demise of a dedicated comrade.
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum.
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar termed Kumar’s death an “irreparable loss to the state”, while Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato said his demise was a loss to his family, the state and the JMM.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi described Kumar as a skilled public representative devoted to public service and said his death was an “irreparable loss to state politics”.
Congress leaders, including former state president Rajesh Thakur, also expressed grief. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore remembered Kumar as a “precious star” of Jharkhand politics, while several ministers described him as a brother and a dedicated public servant.
Former Chief Minister Champai Soren, BJP state leaders, Union Minister Annapurna Devi, JD(U) leader Saryu Roy and CPI(ML) state secretary Manoj Bhakt were among others who condoled Kumar’s death.
The Jharkhand government has declared a two-day state mourning on September 6 and 7. All scheduled government programmes during the period have been cancelled. While government offices will remain closed on September 7, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings in the state where it is regularly flown.
Hearings related to the SIR of electoral rolls for September 7 have also been postponed.
Kumar played a prominent role in helping the JMM navigate several difficult political situations, including the crisis that followed Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in January 2024 in connection with an alleged land scam and money-laundering case.
He was subsequently entrusted with leading the party’s campaign for the Gandey Assembly bypoll, which marked the chief minister’s wife Kalpana Soren’s electoral debut.
Kumar headed the JMM’s core campaign committee and played a central role in shaping the campaign strategy. Kalpana Soren won the bypoll in June 2024, providing an important political boost to the Soren camp. He also played a key role in seat-sharing negotiations with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections..
His responsibilities extended beyond electoral politics, with the JMM leadership relying on him as an important link between the party organisation and the government.
More recently, Kumar headed a ministerial panel constituted to hold talks with students and job aspirants protesting alleged examination irregularities. He held several rounds of discussions with the protesters in an effort to resolve the standoff.
Born in Dhanbad on July 26, 1970, Kumar entered politics at a young age. He unsuccessfully contested the Jharkhand Assembly elections in 2009 and 2014. He won the Giridih seat for the first time in 2019 and retained it in the 2024 Assembly elections.
He joined the Hemant Soren Cabinet in December 2024 and remained active in his official responsibilities until his final days.
Earlier this week, Kumar led a Jharkhand government delegation to Karnataka to study tourism and forest-tourism models and explore cooperation in tourism and forest management. During the visit, he met Karnataka Tourism Minister K J George and discussed possible collaboration between the two states.
The sudden demise of the leader has left the JMM bereft of a leader whose importance went well beyond the ministerial portfolios he held. PTI NAM NSD
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