President Droupadi Murmu visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi to pay her last respects to Shibu Soren, the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), who passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81. Soren had been admitted to the hospital since June 19 for treatment of a kidney-related ailment. His health had deteriorated recently after he suffered a stroke and had been on life support for the past month. President Murmu’s visit underscores the respect and stature Soren commanded across the political spectrum and particularly among tribal communities, whose empowerment he championed throughout his political career.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay homage to the veteran tribal leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister. Known for his deep commitment to the upliftment of tribal people and the poor, Modi expressed his condolences to Soren’s family, including his son Hemant Soren, who is the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The Prime Minister described Shibu Soren as a grassroots leader whose life was dedicated to public service and tribal empowerment. During his visit, Modi was seen consoling an emotional Hemant Soren, reflecting the personal and political loss felt by Soren's family and supporters. Modi acknowledged Soren’s significant role in the formation of Jharkhand state and his tenure as Chief Minister, despite the political turbulence marking his terms.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also paid tribute to Shibu Soren at the hospital. Their presence highlighted the cross-party respect for Soren’s contributions to Indian politics, especially for tribal rights and regional autonomy. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari announced that Soren’s body would be brought to Ranchi around 4 PM following the hospital rituals, after which it would be taken to his residence in the Morabadi area. Soren's death marks the end of an era for Jharkhand’s politics, where he was a towering figure advocating for tribal welfare and a separate Jharkhand state.

Shibu Soren’s political legacy is vast. He was a six-time Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and served three times as Union Cabinet Minister for Coal between 2004 and 2006. He was also elected thrice to the Rajya Sabha. Soren was instrumental in the Jharkhand statehood movement and served three times as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister, though none of his tenures lasted a full term. Remembered as "Dishoom Guru," he remained accessible to people across party lines and was revered for his dedication to tribal empowerment and upliftment. His death is seen as a profound loss for the tribal communities and the broader political landscape of eastern India.