Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's mother Rupi Soren passes away at 80

Ranchi: Rupi Soren, mother of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and wife of the late Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren, passed away at a private hospital in Ranchi on Wednesday evening. She was 80.

Admitted to Hill View Hospital and Research Centre on September 18 with breathing difficulties, her condition deteriorated due to multiple health complications. She was placed on ventilator support earlier in the day.

"CM Hemant Soren's mother Rupi Soren, who was admitted here, passed away around 8.30 pm. She was admitted to the hospital on September 18 with breathing difficulty," said Dr. Nitesh Priya, Director of Hill View Hospital and Research Centre.

Extending an emotional tribute on social media shortly after visiting her, Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote: "After Baba left, Maa was my greatest shelter. Today, even that shelter has merged into the lap of nature. Maa..."

A JMM leader confirmed that her last rites will take place on Thursday at Nemra in the neighboring Ramgarh district.

People and leaders across the political spectrum condoled the demise of Rupi Soren. 

Her brief foray into electoral politics occurred in 1999 when she contested the Dumka Lok Sabha constituency in undivided Bihar, narrowly losing to BJP leader Babulal Marandi by less than 5,000 votes. She subsequently stepped back from electoral contests to support her husband through his political career until his passing last year.

Earlier this year, she attended a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a wheelchair to accept the Padma Bhushan awarded posthumously to her late husband. In a poignant gesture during the event, President Droupadi Murmu stepped down from the dais to present her with the award. (PTI)