Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday expressed deep grief over the demise of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, calling it a “great loss for politics” and remembering him as a towering figure for Dalits and tribal communities.
“He was a great leader of Dalits and tribals. I had close relations with him. His passing saddens me deeply. May his soul rest in peace,” Lalu Yadav told reporters in Patna.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the loss, calling Soren a grassroots leader dedicated to social justice.
“Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister also spoke to Soren’s son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, expressing condolences on behalf of the nation.
Jharkhand Minister Dipika Pandey Singh called Shibu Soren a guiding force, stating, “There is mourning across the state. ‘Dishom Guru’ Shibu Soren is not just a name but a movement. His legacy will live through our actions and ideas.”
BJP leader Nishikant Dubey also paid tribute, saying, “An era has ended. Shibu Soren ji made a monumental contribution to the rise of JMM and the tribal cause. May his family find the strength to bear this loss.”
Known affectionately as ‘Dishom Guru’, Shibu Soren passed away at the age of 81 in New Delhi after prolonged illness. According to Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, he had been suffering from kidney issues and had been on life support following a stroke.
Soren led the JMM for 38 years and played a key role in the formation of Jharkhand as a separate state. He was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served two terms in the Rajya Sabha. He also held office as the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Confirming the news of his father’s demise, Hemant Soren wrote on X, “Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated.”
Shibu Soren leaves behind a powerful political legacy rooted in tribal rights, social justice, and the long struggle for Jharkhand’s identity.
