Patna:Â Senior BJP leader, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Modi passed away on Monday after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was a seasoned politician with over three decades of experience, having held various significant positions throughout his career.
Modi’s journey in politics began during his days as a student at Patna University, where he served as the general secretary of the students’ union in 1973. Despite initially being reluctant to join politics, he eventually became a prominent figure in Bihar’s political landscape.
Modi was elected as an MLA from the Patna Central constituency in 1990, marking his entry into mainstream politics. He went on to hold several key positions within the BJP, including chief whip of the BJP legislature party and leader of the opposition in the state assembly from 1996 to 2004. In 2004, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhagalpur constituency.
One of the highlights of Modi’s political career was his close association with Nitish Kumar, the former Chief Minister of Bihar. When the JD(U) and BJP formed a coalition government after the 2005 assembly elections, Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister, and Modi, who was then a Lok Sabha MP, stepped down to become a member of the Bihar Legislative Council and was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister. Their camaraderie lasted for over a decade, with Modi serving as the Deputy Chief Minister for about 11 years.
Despite his initial reluctance to enter politics, Modi’s talent and dedication propelled him to great heights within the BJP. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2020 and retired earlier this year.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, union minister turned emotional remembering Modi, he said he lost his brother. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders mourned the demise of Modi.
