Patna: Senior leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), including party chief Lalu Prasad, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, have expressed deep sorrow at the death of Jharkhand’s former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, affectionately known as “Guruji”.
In a joint condolence statement issued by the party on Sunday, a host of RJD leaders mourned Soren’s demise, calling it a profound loss to the nation, to Jharkhand, and to the tribal movement he represented for decades. Among those offering tributes were RJD MP Dr Misa Bharti, state president Mangani Lal Mandal, national vice-president Jagdanand Singh, principal general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, former Union ministers Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav and Dr Kanti Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav, and national spokesperson Prof Manoj Kumar Jha.
RJD president Lalu Prasad recalled his long association with Soren, saying, “He was our friend and companion in struggle. We always worked together. His demise is a personal loss to me and a great loss for all of us. My heartfelt condolences are with his family.”
Lalu added that Soren’s death marks an irreparable loss to the tribal community and to Indian politics. “He always stood with the poor, the marginalised, the tribals and minorities. The void his absence leaves in Jharkhand will be difficult to fill. May his soul rest in peace and may the family find strength in this difficult time.”
