{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Tragedy In Jharkhand Education Ministry Sparks Debate On Political Superstitions From Bihar To Uttar Pradesh",
  "summary": "Following the untimely demise of Jharkhand Education Minister Sudivya Sonu, political discussions surrounding superstitiously viewed posts, official bungalows, and city visits in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have resurfaced.",
  "content": "Political circles across India have long witnessed stories of superstition regarding official bungalows, ministerial portfolios, and city visits. While several leaders in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh avoided certain locations out of fear for their tenure, a fresh wave of concern has emerged in Jharkhand. Following the untimely death of three consecutive education ministers, discussions surrounding superstitious beliefs in power corridors have resurfaced. The recent demise of Sudivya Sonu has drawn focus back to this unusual sequence of events in state politics.\n\nTragic Sequence of Demises in Jharkhand Education Ministry\nIn Jharkhand, the education portfolio has come under intense discussion due to tragic circumstances. When Hemant Soren assumed power after defeating the BJP in 2019, Jagarnath Mahto, popularly known as Tiger, was appointed as the Education Minister. During the COVID pandemic, he suffered severe lung complications and passed away on 6 April 2023. Following his death, the responsibility of the ministry was handed over to Ramdas Soren. However, within a span of just one year, he also passed away. Thereafter, Sudivya Sonu was appointed as the state's third education minister. Recognized as a key troubleshooter for the Hemant Soren administration and a highly trusted leader within the JMM, Sudivya Sonu passed away recently on 6 September 2026. This consecutive loss of three leaders in the same ministerial role has created hesitation among political figures regarding taking charge of the department. Currently, deliberations are underway regarding the appointment of a new education minister. Speculation suggests that Hemant Soren might assign this portfolio to a leader from the Congress quota. Another possibility being discussed is that Hemant Soren may induct his MLA wife Kalpana Soren into the cabinet and assign the education ministry to her if no other leader agrees to accept the portfolio.\n\nHaunted Bungalows and Political Shifts in Bihar\nStories of political superstitions are not restricted to Jharkhand alone. Similar beliefs have persisted for years in Bihar regarding official residences allotted to government leaders. In Patna, several ministerial quarters have been perceived as inauspicious. A prominent instance occurred involving Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap, who served as the health minister after a political shift led to the formation of a government under Nitish Kumar with the RJD. When Nitish Kumar later rejoined the BJP and the Grand Alliance government collapsed, Tej Pratap was forced to vacate his ministerial post. This incident took place in 1918. During his tenure as minister, Tej Pratap was allotted bungalow number 3 on Deshratna Marg, located adjacent to the Chief Minister's official residence. Although his exit from the cabinet was a direct result of political realignments, Tej Pratap publicly labeled the residence as inauspicious and claimed that ghosts resided inside the bungalow. He went on to assert that BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi (now deceased) and Nitish Kumar had sent ghosts into the house to ensure no occupant could live there in peace.\n\nInauspicious Properties and Administrative Coincidences\nApart from 3, Deshratna Marg, several other official residences in Bihar have carried similar reputations. Local political beliefs held that any minister who moved into these specific properties failed to complete their full official tenure. Residences such as 39, Harding Road and bungalow number 6 on Strand Road were frequently cited as inauspicious quarters. Ministers staying in these locations reportedly faced difficult political situations that prevented them from finishing their terms. However, political analysts view these occurrences purely as coincidences rather than reality. In the case of Tej Pratap, the loss of his portfolio stemmed entirely from political shifts when Nitish Kumar broke ties with the RJD. The Deshratna Marg bungalow was later allotted to Awadhesh Narayan Singh, the Chairman of the Legislative Council.\n\nThe Long-Standing Noida Jinx in Uttar Pradesh\nUttar Pradesh politics also contains a famous superstitious belief concerning the industrial city of Noida. For decades, Chief Ministers avoided visiting Noida due to a widespread belief that travelling to the city resulted in the immediate loss of power. This apprehension had historical backing among politicians following specific events\n\n• In June 1988, the then Chief Minister Veer Bahadur Singh visited Noida and was forced to step down shortly afterward.\n• In 1989, the then Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari travelled to Noida and lost his ministerial chair soon after his visit.\n• Subsequently, Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, and Kalyan Singh all lost power after conducting official visits to Noida.\n\nDue to this persistent fear, Akhilesh Yadav refrained from visiting Noida during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2012 to 2017. While he conducted administrative meetings via video conferencing, he consistently avoided physical visits to the city.\n\nShattering the Noida Superstition\nThe long-held fear surrounding Noida was eventually shattered by Yogi Adityanath. After becoming the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath made frequent and repeated visits to Noida, disregarding the old political myth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlighted this change during the inauguration of the Jewar Airport, noting that previous leaders avoided visiting Noida out of fear of losing their posts, whereas modern governance prioritizes development over superstitious apprehensions.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe sudden vacancy in Jharkhand’s Education Ministry directly impacts administrative decisions and policy implementations across the state's education sector.\n\n• Across India: The narrative highlights how deeply rooted superstitions continue to influence political decisions and administrative assignments across different Indian states. This raises broader questions about evidence-based governance versus traditional fears among elected representatives.\n• In Jharkhand: The immediate absence of an education minister delays critical policy decisions, teacher recruitment drives, and academic administrative approvals across state schools. School management boards and administrative bodies must navigate temporary leadership arrangements until a permanent appointment is finalized.\n• Policy Execution: Key educational reforms and budgetary allocations for state institutions face potential slowdowns during the transition period. Departmental officials must maintain routine operations while waiting for ministerial clarity.\n• Cabinet Reshuffle: Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces the political task of reallocating portfolios or inducting new cabinet members to maintain stability. Legislative allies and party leaders are evaluating administrative options to fill the crucial role promptly.\n\nWhy this happened\nPolitical superstitions around specific official residences, ministerial portfolios, and city visits have persisted due to notable coincidences and political turnover across Indian states.\n\n• Jharkhand Tragedies: Three consecutive education ministers in Jharkhand passed away during their terms since 2019. Jagarnath Mahto suffered lung complications following COVID-19, Ramdas Soren passed away within a year of taking office, and Sudivya Sonu died on September 6, 2026, giving rise to local apprehensions about the portfolio.\n• Patna Bunglow Myths: Political shifts in Bihar led ministers to vacate official residences after government realignments. In 1918, Tej Pratap left 3, Deshratna Marg due to alliance changes between RJD and JD(U), attributing his exit to superstitious claims about the bungalow.\n• Noida Jinx History: Multiple Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, including Veer Bahadur Singh in June 1988 and N.D. Tiwari in 1989, lost office shortly after visiting Noida. Subsequent chief ministers avoided visiting the city to protect their terms until Yogi Adityanath systematically broke the pattern through repeated visits.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Who were the three Jharkhand education ministers who passed away during their terms?\nThe three education ministers were Jagarnath Mahto (who died on 6 April 2023), Ramdas Soren (who passed away within a year of taking office), and Sudivya Sonu (who died on 6 September 2026).\n\n2. Why did Tej Pratap vacate the 3, Deshratna Marg residence in Bihar?\nTej Pratap vacated the residence due to political changes when the alliance government collapsed, though he claimed the bungalow was inauspicious and haunted by ghosts sent by political rivals.\n\n3. Which Chief Ministers lost their positions after visiting Noida in Uttar Pradesh?\nFormer Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Veer Bahadur Singh (after a June 1988 visit), N.D. Tiwari (in 1989), Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, and Kalyan Singh lost their posts after visiting Noida.\n\n4. How was the long-standing political superstition regarding Noida broken?\nChief Minister Yogi Adityanath broke the superstition by making repeated visits to Noida during his tenure, a change also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Jewar Airport inauguration.\n\n5. What are the current discussions regarding the next Education Minister in Jharkhand?\nDiscussions suggest Chief Minister Hemant Soren may allocate the education portfolio to the Congress quota or include his MLA wife Kalpana Soren in the cabinet to take charge of the department.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/jharkhand/jharkhand-men-shiksha-mntri-sudivya-sonu-ke-jane-se-haraknpa-janie-bihar-se-up-taka-phaile-siyasi-andhavishvason-ke-kisse-30016",
  "category": "Jharkhand",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-09",
  "tags": [
    "Jharkhand Politics",
    "Education Minister Passing",
    "Sudivya Sonu",
    "Political Superstitions",
    "Bihar Politics",
    "Noida Jinx",
    "Yogi Adityanath"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}