Former BJP MLA dies, CM, other leaders offer condolences

Jamshedpur: Prominent BJP leader of Kolhan division and

former Ichagarh MLA

Sadhucharan Mahato passed away on Tuesday at

Rabindranath Tagore Hospital

, Kolkata, where he was undergoing treatment for renal problem.

The 48-year-old politician recently underwent kindey transplant at the same hospital. His wife, Sarthi, donated one of her kidneys to him.

Chief minister Hemant Soren, Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda and host of other political leaders expressed their condelences over social media.

"He was doing well after the

kidney transplant

, but suddenly developed complications on Monday resulting in his death," said a close aide of the leader.

Popular among the people of his constituency for being available whenever required, Sadhucharan was known for his sustained campaign for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the scores of villagers of Chandil who were displaced by the Subernarekha Multipurpose Project.

"Sadhucharan always served the people of Ichagarh with commitment," said Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato, while condoling the death of the former legislator.

Beginning his political journey with JMM in early 1990s, Sadhucharan came close to the then Congress strongman and Singhbhum MP Vijay Singh Soy. After joining the Congress, Sadhucharan was made president of the district Congress committee of Seraikela-Kharswan between 2005 and 2008.

In 2009, Sadhucharan joined BJP, and unsuccessfully contested his first election from Ichagarh assembly constituency that same year. In 2014, Sadhucharan tasted success by defeating Sabita Mahato of JMM by an overwhelming votes from Ichagarh on BJP ticket.

However in 2019 state elections, he lost to Sabita. He was known to be a strongman when it came to getting things done for the people of his constituency.

In 2018, he underwent treatment at Tata Main Hospital (TMH) while he was in police custody for over three months after he was arrested for allegedly slapping land revenue official, Deepu Kumar, in Nimdih.

Sadhucharan faced several cases in his early life, four cases were pending against him in 2019, as per the affidavit filed by him before ECI during the assembly polls.

Most of the cases are related to unlawful assembly, insult intended to breach of peace and deterring public servant from discharging duty.

Sadhucharan's fluency in Bengali made him popular among the Bengali voters of his constituency. The Ichagarh assembly segment is anchored on the borders of Purulia district of Bengal.

The Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA), President, Santosh Khetan, said Sadhucharan was close to the entrepreneurs. Resident of Sridungri in Adityapur, Sadhucharan shared a good rapport with local industralists. Family sources said Sadhucharan's body will be brought to his Sridungri house on Tuesday for conducting the last rites.