Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar dies of cardiac arrest at 56

Kumar, a senior JMM leader and legislator from Giridih, also held the portfolios of Urban Development, Tourism, Arts & Culture, and Sports and Youth Affairs. He had first won the Giridih Assembly seat in 2019.

The JMM described the minister's death as an "irreparable loss" to the party, the government and the state. "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. It conveyed condolences to Kumar's family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Key role during Soren's arrest

A close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kumar played a key role in managing crises within the JMM, including during Soren's arrest in 2024 in connection with an alleged land fraud and money laundering case.

He is survived by two daughters and a son.

Karnataka visit for tourism cooperation

Kumar had 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.

The delegation also held detailed discussions on the possibility of associating Jungle Lodges & Resorts as a knowledge partner for better operation and management of tourism assets and resorts at major tourist destinations in Jharkhand.

Source: The Hindu