Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed profound grief over the demise of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away at 81 in New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Monday after a prolonged battle with kidney-related ailments. In a heartfelt condolence message, Reddy lauded Soren, fondly called ‘Guruji,’ for his relentless struggle in securing Jharkhand’s statehood and championing tribal rights.

Reddy highlighted Soren’s unwavering support for the Telangana statehood movement, noting his solidarity as a pivotal influence. “Soren understood the soul of Telangana, having walked a similar path for Jharkhand,” Reddy said, echoing sentiments shared by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K T Rama Rao. Rao recalled Soren’s moral and political backing for his father, BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), during the Telangana agitation, emphasizing that Soren’s JMM, as part of the UPA coalition, played a key role in advocating for Telangana’s formation in Parliament.

Soren’s four-decade political career included eight terms as a Lok Sabha MP, two as a Rajya Sabha member, and three stints as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister (2005, 2008-2009, 2009-2010). His efforts to combat drug abuse and exploitation by moneylenders were also praised by Reddy. KCR, in a call to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, conveyed condolences and deputed BRS MLAs Vemula Prashant Reddy and Kova Lakshmi to attend Soren’s funeral. The Jharkhand government declared a three-day mourning period.

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