Jharkhand's Urban Development Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu has died, with early information pointing to a heart attack as the cause. As news of his death spread, a crowd began gathering outside his residence in Giridih.
Who was Sudivya Kumar Sonu
Sonu was associated with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and had been elected MLA from the Giridih assembly seat for a second consecutive term. In the state government, he held charge of the Urban Development Department along with the Tourism and Higher Education departments.
What is known about the cause of death
A heart attack is being cited as the cause of his death, though an official medical confirmation is still awaited. Doctors and officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the exact cause.
What the minister had been doing in recent months
Sonu had remained active and in the news in the weeks before his death. Amid the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's tough stand on the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill 2026, he had warned of an economic blockade. Earlier, in Giridih, he had paid tribute to Kishun Marandi, remembering his sacrifice. Also in Giridih, he laid the foundation stone for 119 development projects worth Rs 17.39 crore and personally reviewed the quality of the work. As Urban Development Minister, he had pushed an initiative to move the regularisation of unauthorised houses in Jharkhand online, giving relief to owners of buildings up to 300 square feet. He had also made a notable claim about the 2029 elections.
Condolences pour in across political circles
News of the minister's death triggered an outpouring of grief across Jharkhand's political circles, with leaders from his party and the government visiting his residence to offer condolences.
