GUWAHATI: Jharkhand Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development Minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Sudivya Kumar Sonu died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Ranchi early Sunday. He was 56.
ALSO READ: UN Declares November 27 International Day to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage
Sonu was admitted to the hospital late Saturday night and died around 4 AM.
The Giridih legislator also held charge of the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs departments in the Jharkhand government.
The JMM mourned his death, describing Sonu as a dedicated party leader and minister whose loss was “irreparable” for the party, the government and Jharkhand.
“The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha family is stunned and heart-broken by the untimely demise of Sudivya Kumar, a dedicated comrade of JMM and a Minister in Jharkhand government,” the party said in a post on X.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren mourned Sonu’s death, calling it a deeply personal loss and paying tribute to him as a trusted aide and committed leader of the Jharkhand movement.
Sonu had returned from Karnataka just days before his death after leading a Jharkhand government delegation to study tourism infrastructure and management practices. The delegation met Karnataka Tourism Minister K J George to discuss cooperation in tourism and forest management and explored partnering with Jungle Lodges & Resorts as a knowledge partner for tourism facilities in Jharkhand.
His sudden death has left the JMM and the state government mourning the loss of a senior minister and party leader.