Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar Dies at 56
Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar, 56, died of cardiac arrest. He was a key JMM leader and Giridih MLA.
Sudivya Kumar, a senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and minister in the Jharkhand government, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026. He was 56. The party confirmed that he died of a cardiac arrest.
Kumar, who represented the Giridih constituency in the state assembly, held the portfolios of Higher and Technical Education, Urban Development, Tourism, Arts & Culture, and Sports and Youth Affairs. He was first elected to the Jharkhand Assembly from Giridih in 2019.
The JMM expressed deep shock and grief over his sudden demise, describing it as an "irreparable loss" to the party, the government, and the state. In a post on X, the party said its family was "stunned and heart-broken" and conveyed condolences to his family.
A close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kumar played a crucial role in managing party crises, including during Soren's arrest in 2024 in a land fraud and money laundering case.
Just days before his death, Kumar had returned from Karnataka, where he led a state delegation to study tourism infrastructure management. He met Karnataka's Tourism Minister K.J. George and discussed cooperation in tourism and forest management. The delegation also explored partnering with Jungle Lodges & Resorts as a knowledge partner for managing tourism assets in Jharkhand.
Kumar is survived by two daughters and a son. His passing has left the JMM and the state government in mourning.