JMM supremo, former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren passes away at 81

(RNS, 04-08-25) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founding patron and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Dishom Guru Shibu Soren passed away in the early hours of Monday at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. His son and current Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the death, saying, "Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty".

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The veteran tribal leader was suffering from a kidney infection and had also been diagnosed with bronchitis.

He was declared dead at 8:56 a.m. on Monday, according to Dr. A.K. Bhalla, Chairman, Department of Nephrology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. "It is sad to inform that Shibu Soren ji was declared dead at 8:56 a.m. today after a prolonged illness," Dr. Bhalla said in a statement. The JMM leader's son Hemant Soren, his wife, Kalpana Soren, had rushed to Delhi on Sunday evening. His younger son, Basant Soren, is also currently in the Capital.

Shibu Soren played a pivotal role in the movement for the creation of a separate Jharkhand state. After the state’s formation in 2000, he served as Chief Minister for three occasions.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha seven times and also served as Union Coal Minister in the UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2004. He founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and continued to serve as the party's patron until his death.

His elder son, Durga Soren, had predeceased him. Durga Soren’s wife, Sita Soren, is currently affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both Kalpana Soren and Basant Soren are Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Jharkhand.