Patna, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to former deputy chief minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi in Bihar. PM Modi arrived at Sushil Modi's residence in Bihar's Patna and paid his tribute. He also met the family of the late BJP leader.

Sushil Modi passed away at Delhi's All-India Institute of Medical Sciences on May 13 after battling cancer for seven months. He was 72. The last rites of the former Rajya Sabha MP were performed at Digha Ghat in Patna on May 14. He was given state honours during his last rites. On April 3, this year, Sushil Modi revealed he was suffering from cancer and requested the BJP to relieve him of assignments related to the Lok Sabha elections. Sushil Kumar Modi Dies: Former CM Of Bihar & Senior BJP Leader Passes Away After Battling Cancer; PM Modi & Many Other Politicians Express Grief.

Over his three-decade-long political career, Modi played a pivotal role in shaping Bihar's political environment. Sushil Modi held various positions in his three-decade-long political career. He served as an MLA, MLC and member of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

He was elected as an MLA for the first time in 1990 from the Patna Central constituency, where he defeated sitting Congress legislator Akil Haider. He also served as the leader of the opposition in the state assembly from 1996 to 2004. In 2004, Sushil Modi was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha from Bhagalpur. Sushil Kumar Modi Cancer Diagnosis: BJP MP Withdraws from Lok Sabha Election Duties Amid Battle With Cancer.

PM Modi Visits Sushil Kumar Modi's House:

Then later, he stepped down from his Lok Sabha post in 2005 to become a member of the legislative council and was appointed as the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister alongside Nitish Kumar. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar from 2005 to 2013 and again from 2017 to 2020. Earlier, PM Modi in a post said he is "deeply saddened" by the untimely demise of his friend for decades.

"I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Sushil Modi ji, my valuable colleague in the party and my friend for decades. He has played an invaluable role in the rise and success of BJP in Bihar. Strongly opposing the Emergency, he made a name for himself in student politics. He was known as a very hardworking and sociable MLA. He had a deep understanding of the issues related to politics. He also did a lot of commendable work as an administrator. His active role in the passage of GST will always be remembered. My condolences are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!" he said.