Senior Congress leader and former Delhi MLA Jai Kishan died of heart attack Wednesday evening. He was 66.
A prominent Dalit face in the capital, Jai Kishan won four times from the Sultanpur Majra Assembly seat in North West Delhi, in 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2013. In the 1998 polls, he fielded his wife Sushila Devi and she, too, won from the seat.
Jai Kishan was a sanitation worker before he began his political journey. He joined the Congress in 1980 and served in various organisational roles, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president.
Tributes poured in for Jai Kishan from the Congress’s top brass as well as the Delhi unt.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, stated, “The demise of former AICC Secretary and five-time MLA from Delhi, Jai Kishan ji is an irreparable loss for the Congress Party. As a dedicated Congress worker, he served the people and contributed to the empowerment of the underprivileged sections of society.”
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and supporters of the departed soul. Heartfelt tribute,” he added.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal posted, “It is a matter of great sadness to hear about the demise of our senior INC leader and 5-time MLA from Delhi Sh. Jai Kishan ji today.”
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“On behalf of the entire Congress family, I convey our heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. He rose from a marginalised background to go on an serve the public and the party with immense dedication for many years, and left an indelible mark on the lives he touched. May he rest in peace. Om Shanti,” Venugopal added.
“The news of the demise of five-time MLA from Sultanpuri, former AICC Secretary, senior member of the Congress family, Jai Kishan ji is extremely sad,” Delhi Congress president Devendar Yadav said in a post on X.
“May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti,” the post added.
A senior leader of the Delhi Congress said Jai Kishan was diabetic and had been struggling with depression. “His blood sugar levels were said to have been a cause for concern regarding his health. He was also contending with depression, especially after the Congress’s loss in the recent Assembly elections,” the leader said.
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A renowned leader and social worker from Sultanpuri, Jai Kishan was once again fielded from Sultanpur Majra by the Congress in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections despite his losses in 2015 and 2020, but his pursuit to regain the seat remained unsuccessful.
He could secure only 8,600 votes in the 2025 Delhi polls in February and came third in the Sultanpur Majra constituency, behind Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat (58,767 votes) and the BJP’s Karam Singh Karma (41,641 votes).
Jai Kishan’s last rites were set to be performed at 1 pm Thursday.