BJP holds memorial meet for Sushil Kumar Modi on first death anniversary
The Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday organised a memorial meeting at Rabindra Bhavan to mark the first death anniversary of former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan earlier this year.
Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, attended the ceremony, which was also marked by the presence of several senior leaders and party workers. Floral tributes were paid to a portrait of the late leader, as attendees recalled his political journey and contribution to Bihar's governance.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jaiswal described it as a privilege to have worked alongside Mr. Modi. 'His understanding of the party organisation and the dedication of its workers was unmatched. Despite being a senior leader, he maintained deep respect for grassroots workers and never hesitated to visit them in times of personal grief,' he said.
Recalling Mr. Modi's approach to leadership, Mr. Jaiswal characterised him as a disciplined and thoughtful figure, someone who refrained from forming opinions without due consideration. 'He was a storehouse of knowledge, particularly in governance,' he added.
Among those present were Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, Legislative Council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh, MPs Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Vivek Thakur, Dharmshila Gupta, BJP general secretary (organisation) Bhikhubhai Dalsania, and State Ministers Mangal Pandey, Prem Kumar, Nitin Naveen, Jeevesh Mishra, and Sanjay Saraogi.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, in his address, credited Mr. Modi with playing a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar. 'He was a key architect of the party in the State. His work laid the foundation for a new generation of leadership,' he said.
Mr. Choudhary also highlighted Mr. Modi's influence on financial policymaking. 'He understood the nuances of the Finance Department like few others. It was on his suggestion that I accepted the Finance portfolio, keeping the party's interest in mind,' he added. Recalling Mr. Modi's time as Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Choudhary said his interventions often created a stir in the Assembly. 'When he brought papers to the House, it was understood that a major issue or irregularity was about to be raised.'
In a separate event held at Rajendra Nagar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also paid floral tribute to the late leader. He unveiled a commemorative plaque and renamed the erstwhile Rani Park as Sushil Kumar Modi Memorial Park. The Chief Minister further announced the installation of a life-size statue of Mr. Modi at the park.
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