Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies of Cardiac Arrest at 56

Sudivya Kumar Sonu, a senior leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a minister in the Jharkhand government, died in Ranchi in the early hours of Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 56 years old.

Sonu was admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi late Saturday night after his health suddenly worsened. He died at around 4 a.m., according to the party. The news of his death was confirmed by the JMM in a statement on social media platform X.

Sonu held several important portfolios in the state government. He was the Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development. In addition, he had been given the charge of the Departments of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs. This made him one of the prominent faces of the state cabinet.

Sonu was the legislator from the Giridih Assembly constituency, having been elected there in 2019. He was a trusted aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and played a crucial role in steering the JMM through a series of political challenges. One significant challenge was the period following the arrest of Chief Minister Soren in a land fraud and money laundering case in 2024. During those difficult times, Sonu remained committed and worked to maintain unity within the party. Party leaders later acknowledged his contribution to these efforts.

Expressing grief, the JMM said in a post on X: "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 the Jharkhand government." The post added that Sonu's departure was an "irreparable loss for the party, the government and the state". The party said Sonu's death had left its members shocked and grief-stricken, describing the loss as irreplaceable for both the government and the state.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the loss was deeply personal. Remembering Sonu, he said he was a trusted companion, a mentor and a committed soldier of the Jharkhand movement. Soren added that Sonu's contributions to the state's identity and rights would never be forgotten.

Jharkhand Transport, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Deepak Birua said Sonu's health suddenly deteriorated on Saturday night. "He was taken to the hospital, where he passed away during treatment," Birua said in a message. He also said, "I am deeply saddened by the death of my fellow minister in the Jharkhand government, brother Sudivya Sonu." Birua offered his condolences to the bereaved family and said, "May God grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief."

Sonu is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Days before his death, Sonu had returned from Karnataka, where he led a state delegation to study tourism infrastructure and management practices. He met Karnataka Tourism Minister K J George to discuss potential collaboration in tourism and forest management. The delegation also explored the possibility of partnering with Jungle Lodges & Resorts as a knowledge partner to enhance the management and operation of tourism facilities and resorts at key destinations in Jharkhand. This visit was part of the state's wider initiative to promote tourism as an economic sector, and Sonu was personally overseeing the project.

Sonu's sudden death has left the ruling JMM and the state government in mourning. Leaders remember him as a senior minister, a key party strategist and a dedicated public representative. His absence will be felt in the functioning of the several departments he looked after, including education, urban development and tourism. His contributions to the JMM's organisation and governance are being praised by colleagues across the political spectrum.