‘Irreparable loss’: JMM mourns minister Sudivya Kumar’s death

Jharkhand's senior leader and minister Sudivya Kumar has passed away, JMM announced on Sunday. The 56-year-old minister served in various key portfolios including Tourism, Arts & Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs. Kumar's sudden death due to a cardiac arrest has sent shockwaves through the JMM and the Jharkhand government, with the party mourning his loss as an 'irreparable' one.

Described as a dedicated comrade and a minister in the Jharkhand government, Kumar was first elected from Giridih in 2019. A key aide to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kumar played a critical role in handling challenges within the JMM, particularly during Soren's arrest in 2024 on allegations of land fraud and money laundering. Recently, Kumar had returned from Karnataka, where he led a Jharkhand delegation to explore tourism infrastructure management improvements.

During the trip, he met with Karnataka Tourism Minister K J George to discuss potential collaborations in tourism and forest management. The delegation also examined the possibility of partnering with Jungle Lodges & Resorts to enhance the operation and management of tourism assets and resorts in Jharkhand. Kumar's unexpected death has left the JMM and the state government in mourning over the loss of a seasoned leader.