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The BJP in Bihar mourns the passing of Sushil Kumar Modi, the former Deputy Chief Minister and ex-Rajya Sabha MP, who died at 72 after a battle with cancer. The Bihar BJP unit announced the veteran politician’s death on Monday.
Tributes Pour In for Sushil Kumar: A Legacy of Leadership and Dedication
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Expressing deep sorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his profound sadness over the untimely demise of Sushil Modi ji, highlighting their longstanding camaraderie and acknowledging his pivotal role in the BJP’s growth in Bihar. Reflecting on Sushil Modi’s journey, the Prime Minister emphasized his emergence in student politics, his principled stance against the Emergency, and his reputation as a hardworking and sociable MLA with a profound grasp of political intricacies.
Sushil Kumar Modi, a prominent BJP leader, served as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Bihar. He previously held the positions of Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Bihar, serving from 2005 to 2013 and again from 2017 to 2020. Additionally, he was affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Following the announcement of his death, condolences began to flood in.
BJP National President JP Nadda expressed deep sorrow over the death of the senior party leader, calling the news “extremely sad.” He remarked, “We have worked together for the organization from the days of the Vidhyarthi Parishad till now. Sushil Modi ji dedicated his entire life to Bihar. His efforts were instrumental in lifting Bihar out of jungle raj and steering it towards development. His absence is an irreplaceable loss for countless party workers,” he wrote in a post on X.
Other senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers also shared their sorrow. Nitin Gadkari posted a “heartfelt tribute to the late BJP leader,” noting that “Sushil Kumar’s passing is an irreparable loss for Bihar and the nation. I have personally collaborated with him since our Vidhyarthi Parishad days. Sushil will be remembered as a leader devoted to his principles, who made significant contributions to strengthening the party and the organization in Bihar,” he said.
BJP’s Ascendancy in Bihar: The Sushil Modi Era
Image source: Hindustan Times
Sushil Modi is often acknowledged for the BJP’s growth in Bihar, becoming the party’s most prominent figure in the state after Kailashpati Mishra, the former Finance Minister of Bihar. The BJP’s journey in Bihar began in 1995 when it emerged as the main opposition party. Twenty-five years later, it secured the position of the second-largest party in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, winning 74 seats in the 243-member state assembly. Presently, the BJP holds more seats in the Bihar assembly than the Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which has 43 members. However, Nitish Kumar continues to serve as the Chief Minister of the state’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Sushil Modi commenced his political career in 1990 and won the assembly election from the now-defunct Patna Central Assembly constituency. He secured re-election in 1995 and 2000.
In 2004, he won the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat. However, in 2005, he resigned from the Lok Sabha to assume the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Alongside this position, he was entrusted with the Finance Portfolio and other departments. Following the NDA’s triumph in the 2010 Bihar assembly polls, Sushil Modi continued serving as the state’s Deputy Chief Minister.
Sushil Modi : Architect of BJP’s Alliance with Nitish Kumar in Bihar
Image source: Prabhat Khabar
Sushil Modi played a key role in forging the BJP’s alliance with Nitish Kumar in Bihar. He held the position of Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar for approximately 11 years across two periods: initially from November 2005 to June 2013, and later from July 2017 to December 2020. Throughout these terms, Sushil Modi developed a solid relationship with Nitish Kumar.
The JP movement, also recognized as the Bihar movement, denotes a political uprising instigated by students protesting against mismanagement and corruption within the Bihar government in 1974. Spearheaded by the esteemed socialist Jayaprakash Narayan, commonly referred to as JP.
Condoling Sushil’s demise, Lalu Yadav reminisced about their friendship spanning “51-52 years since our days at Patna University.” Describing him as a dedicated and committed leader, the RJD chief shared his sentiments.
From Student Politics to State Leadership: The Journey of Sushil Modi
Image source: The Wire
Hailing from a Vaishya family in Bihar, Sushil Modi engaged in student politics during his BSc studies at Patna University. Over time, he emerged as a prominent figure within the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Until 2004, Sushil Modi served as the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly. However, in that same year, he transitioned to the Lok Sabha, representing Bhagalpur. Following the decisive defeat of the RJD-Congress alliance in the state assembly elections the following year, Sushil Modi returned to Bihar as the Deputy Chief Minister under Nitish Kumar. Additionally, he assumed the role of BJP President for the Bihar unit.
In April 2024, Sushil Modi announced his inability to contest the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 due to his ongoing battle with cancer.
