Senior BJP leader and Bihar’s former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi passed away at Delhi’s All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Monday evening. He was 72.
Modi, a Rajya Sabha member, had been battling cancer for the last seven months. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of the AIIMS last month.
"The BJP family is deeply saddened by the news of the demise of former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and former Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sushil Kumar Modi," the state unit of the party said in a post on X.
Condoling the death of Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Bihar has lost a great pioneer of politics forever.
"I am saddened by the news of the demise of our senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi. Today, Bihar has lost a great pioneer of politics forever. From ABVP to BJP, Sushil ji has adorned many important positions in the organization and government,” Shah said.
The home minister remarked that Modi’s politics was dedicated to the interests of the poor and the backwards. “The void that has emerged in Bihar politics due to his demise cannot be filled for a long time. In this hour of grief, the entire BJP stands with his bereaved family. May God give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet,” he further said.
BJP president J.P. Nadda said Modi’s efforts have been helpful in bringing Bihar out of jungle raj and putting it on the path of development. “His absence is an irreparable loss for countless workers. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members,” he wrote on X.
Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha said Modi will always be remembered for his organisational skills, administrative understanding and his deep knowledge of social and political issues.
"Senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Sushil Modi ji is no more among us. This is an irreparable loss for the entire BJP organization family as well as countless workers like me,” added.
Modi, who was the face of the BJP in Bihar, served as the deputy CM for over 11 years in two stints between 2005 and 2020.
Last month, the BJP leader had taken to X to announce that he was diagnosed with cancer and will not be able to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.
