Former deputy CM Sushil Modi, 72, dead

Patna: Senior BJP functionary and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, 72, passed away at AIIMS-Delhi on Monday. He was suffering from urinary bladder cancer - metastasis (brain and bone). He was at the last stage of cancer. Modi was initially admitted under Dr Amlesh Seth and later treated by Dr Ranjeet Sahi (medical oncologist). He was admitted to AIIMS on April 9.
“He died at AIIMS, New Delhi at 9.45 pm on Monday,” hospital sources said.
On April 3 this year, Modi had revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer six months ago and would not take part in the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll campaign.
“I have been battling cancer for the last six months. Now, I feel that the time has come to inform people about it. I will not be able to do anything in the Lok Sabha elections,” he had posted on X.
Besides holding the post of deputy chief minister in the Nitish Kumar govt, Modi also served as the finance minister of Bihar from 2005 to 2013 and 2017 to 2020.
He was also appointed the chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers for the Implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST). He played crucial roles in enforcement of the GST across the country.
Born on January 5, 1952, in the family of Moti Lal Modi and Ratna Devi (his parents), Modi attended the Patna Science College and graduated with BSc (hons) botany degree in 1973. He enrolled in MSc botany course at Patna University but left the course midway to join the social movement started by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Modi married Jessie George, a Christian Keralite hailing from Mumbai on August 13, 1986.
His political career started as a student activist at Patna University. He became the general secretary of Patna University Students’ Union in 1973. Lalu Prasad (now RJD president) was the president of the Union at that time.
Modi was arrested five times during J P Movement and the Emergency. He was arrested during the 1974 student movement in Bihar.