Sudivya Kumar, JMM senior leader and Jharkhand Minister, dies at 56

Sudivya Kumar, a senior leader for the JMM and the Minister of Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development in the Jharkhand government, passed away on September 6, 2026, at the age of 56, according to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The minister had also been handling key portfolios such as Tourism, Arts & Culture, and Sports and Youth Affairs.

He died due to cardiac arrest, as reported by a JMM leader. The JMM expressed deep shock and grief over Kumar's unexpected demise, calling it an "irreparable loss" to the party, the government, and the people of Jharkhand. The party mourned the loss of a dedicated comrade and a minister in the Jharkhand government, offering condolences to Kumar's family and praying for peace for his soul.

Kumar first won a seat in the Jharkhand Assembly from Giridih in 2019. As a close aide to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, he played a crucial role in handling crises within the JMM, including during Soren's arrest in 2024 for alleged land fraud and money laundering. Kumar had recently returned from a visit to Karnataka, where he led a delegation from the Jharkhand government to discuss potential improvements in tourism infrastructure management and cooperation between the two states in tourism and forest management.

The delegation met with Karnataka's Tourism Minister, K.J. George, to explore possibilities of collaboration in tourism and managing tourism assets and resorts at major tourist destinations in Jharkhand. Kumar's sudden death has left the JMM and the Jharkhand government in mourning, as they grappled with the loss of a senior leader and minister.