Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, key negotiator with student protesters, dies at 54

Jharkhand Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu died of a heart attack in Giridih late on Saturday. He was 54. Sonu, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA from Giridih, experienced discomfort while sleeping at his residence and was rushed to a hospital by his family members.

He died on the way to the hospital, sources told The Indian Express. Sonu represented the Giridih Sadar Assembly constituency. He was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 2019 and retained the seat in 2024. He subsequently joined Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Cabinet.

He held the portfolios of Urban Development and Housing, Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, besides Higher and Technical Education. “The moments I spent with him and the lessons I learnt from him will always remain with me,” he said.

Sonu had recently been involved in the state government's negotiations with students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

He was part of the ministerial panel that held multiple rounds of talks with protesting students in Ranchi in August. The talks took place amid a prolonged student agitation demanding action over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations, including the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination.

Sonu had said the government was consulting student groups and other stakeholders on reforms to the examination system. In the 2024 election, Sonu retained the Giridih seat, securing 94,042 votes, or 45.28 per cent of the vote, defeating the BJP's Nirbhay Shahbadi by 3,838 votes.

He was also the first JMM legislator from the Giridih Assembly constituency to become a minister in the Jharkhand government in more than two decades. In his condolence message, CM Soren said Sonu had stood with the late “Baba Dishom Guruji” (Shibu Soren, the JMM co-founder) with unwavering dedication since the days of the Jharkhand movement.

As a dedicated JMM worker, Sonu devoted his entire life to the struggle for Jharkhand’s identity, rights and self-respect, Soren said. “His commitment to Jharkhandiyat and his fighting spirit will always be remembered,” Soren added.

“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 throughout my life. You will always be remembered, bhaiya,” he said.

Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens.

Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India.

This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism.

His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More