Former Union minister Jayawantiben Mehta passes away

BJP leader Jayawantiben Mehta, who was a minister in the Vajpayee government from 1996 to 1999, passed away here today after a brief illness. She was 78.
Mehta rose in the BJP ranks to become a corporator, legislator and an MP who defeated late Murli Deora from South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his condolence message, described her as a grassroots worker and leader.
Jayawantiben was a mass leader of BJP-Janasangh and taught me leadership in public service, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said.
The cremation of the former Minister of State for Power, who died at 1.25 AM, will take place at 5.30 PM today at the Shivaji Park crematorium, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye told PTI.

After her foray in politics in 1962, Mehta was elected corporator in 1968 and reelected for another term.

During the Emergency in 1975, she was imprisoned for 19 months. In 1978, she was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and served two terms up to 1985.
In 1980, she became a member of the BJP national executive and in 1988, was made the party's Secretary.
In 1989, she was first elected to the Lok Sabha and reelected in 1996 and 1999.
She represented the Mumbai North East constituency in the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 and Mumbai South constituency in the 11th and 13th Lok Sabha in 1996 and 1999.

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Governor of Maharashtra Ch Vidyasagar Rao expressed shock and grief over the demise of Jayawantiben Mehta.
"I had the privilege of working with Smt Jaywantiben Mehta as a ministerial colleague in the cabinet of former Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. Jayawantiben made her distinct mark as Minister of State for Power and as a Parliamentarian," Rao said in a condolence message.
He said Jaywantiben was a good orator and committed social worker gifted with boundless energy.
She maintained her contacts with the people and helped various social organizations. She made immense contribution to the development of the state, especially that of her constituency of South Mumbai, he said.

"I had the opportunity of meeting her only recently and therefore the news of her demise came as a shock," Rao said.
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Fadnavis said he was "saddened to know about the
demise of our leader". He described Mehta as an inspiration for lakhs of party workers.
"Jaywantiben was a great orator and very hard working. We have learnt a lot from her. My deepest condolences to Mehta family and karyakartas," the CM tweeted.
"She started from a councillor in Mumbai and became Union Minister in Atalji's Cabinet," he said, adding Mehta's journey is very inspiring.
"Fondly known as 'Bhuleshwar ki Bhavani', her contribution for BJP's growth and governance in Mumbai, Maharashtra and nation will be remembered forever," Fadnavis said.