Giridih, September 6, 2026: Chief Minister Hemant Soren visited the residence of late Cabinet Minister and Giridih Sadar MLA Sudivya Kumar Sonu at Harsinghraidih in Giridih on Sunday and paid his last respects to the deceased leader.
Soren placed a floral wreath on Sonu’s mortal remains and met the bereaved family members to express his condolences. He described Sonu’s sudden death as deeply painful and a major loss for Jharkhand.
The Chief Minister said the state had lost a hardworking public representative, dedicated minister and young political leader. He said Sonu’s contribution and public service would be remembered.
Soren also prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to cope with the loss.
JMM MLA Kalpana Soren accompanied the Chief Minister and paid floral tribute to Sonu.
A 37-year political journey with JMM
Sonu’s death on the morning of September 6 brought an end to a political journey that began nearly 37 years ago, when he joined the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha as a primary member.
After entering the party, Sonu worked at the organisational level and later took responsibility in the Giridih municipal unit. He contested Assembly elections twice but lost on both occasions before winning the Giridih seat for the first time in 2019.
He retained the constituency in the 2024 Assembly election and subsequently became a Cabinet minister in the Hemant Soren government.
His death is also a personal loss for Soren, as Sonu was among the leaders who worked closely with him and had a direct connection with people in the state. The source material recalls other JMM-associated leaders who died in recent years, including Haji Hussain Ansari, Jagarnath Mahto, Rajendra Singh and Ramdas Soren.
Sonu’s role during JPSC-JSSC student protests
Sonu’s role as Higher and Technical Education Minister became particularly visible in 2026 amid student protests over JPSC and JSSC examinations and recruitment processes.
He was among the government’s key representatives who engaged with protesting students during the movement. Discussions with students included issues surrounding cancellation or postponement of examinations and decisions related to investigations into recruitment-related matters.
As the government and protesting students held talks, Sonu emerged as an important interlocutor in communicating the government’s position and decisions to the students.
His sudden death has therefore been felt not only within the JMM but also among political and administrative circles in Jharkhand.
