Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Minister Sudivya Kumar has passed away due to cardiac arrest. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed the death on Sunday (September 6, 2026).The 56-year-old leader was serving as the Minister for Higher and Technical Education and the Minister for Urban Development, along with ministries such as Tourism, Arts & Culture and Sports and Youth Affairs. He was a two-term MLA from the Giridih assembly constituency.“Late at night, I received the heartbreaking news of the passing of my elder brother, our beloved Sudivya Kumar Sonu Ji. Accepting this news is extremely difficult for me. His departure has left a void in my life that cannot be expressed in words. He was not just a senior colleague or political associate to me. He was like an elder brother—affectionate, guiding, and steadfastly standing by my side in every difficult time,” Mr. Soren posted the message on his account in social media platform X.He further wrote, “The moments spent with him and the lessons learned from him will always remain with me. From the days of the Jharkhand movement, he stood with full devotion and strength alongside the late Baba Dishom Guruji. As a dedicated soldier of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, he devoted his entire life to the fight for Jharkhand’s identity, rights, and pride.”Mr. Soren added, “His dedication to Jharkhand and his indomitable spirit will always be remembered. Today, as I remember him, my heart keeps thinking how fragile life is. The voice that was among us until yesterday is now only in memories. Sonu Bhaiya, your passing is a personal loss for me. Your absence will always be felt. I will carry your affection, your struggles, and your commitment to Jharkhand with me for life. You will always be remembered, Bhaiya.”A close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Mr. Kumar played a key role in managing crises within the JMM, including during Mr. Soren’s arrest in 2024 in connection with an alleged land fraud and money laundering case.Mr. Kumar returned this week from Karnataka, where he led a Jharkhand government delegation to explore ways to improve tourism infrastructure management in the state. During the visit, he met Karnataka Tourism Minister K.J. George and discussed possibilities of cooperation between the two states in tourism and forest management.Explaining the cause of the death, Dr. Shahzad Sheikh of Mercy Hospital in Giridih said, “Patient Sudivya Kumar came to us around 2:15. He had had chest pain for two hours, and when the patient came here. He had already aspirated. Whatever he had vomited had gone into the lungs. He was immediately intubated, in the ECG, there were signs of a heart attack. Within 10-15 minutes, the patient collapsed. CPR was started, however while CPR was in, progress, all the CPR procedures were done, and despite all resuscitation measures, the patient was pronounced dead.”Mr. Kumar survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi expressed deep grief over his death, “The news of the demise of the Minister of Jharkhand, Sudivya Kumar Sonu Ji, has left me deeply anguished. He was a skilled public representative and a personality devoted to public service. His death is an irreparable loss to the politics of Jharkhand.”Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar has also expressed grief over the death of the Minister in a social media post on X.“The news of the untimely demise of State Minister Sudivya Kumar is deeply saddening and heart-wrenching. His passing is an irreparable loss to the State. May the Almighty grant the bereaved family members and supporters the strength to bear this immense grief,”Mr. Gangwar wrote.Congress leader and Health Minister Irfan Ansari too expressed grief, calling it a deeply painful and heartbreaking loss.The Jharkhand government has decided to observe a two-day State mourning on September 6 and 7. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official functions will be organised. The State Government has also decided that all government offices will remain closed on Monday (September 7, 2026).The last rites of Mr. Kumar is scheduled to take place today at 3:30 p.m. at the Usri River-Harsinghraydih cremation ground in Giridih district.