Ex-Union minister Jayawantiben Mehta passes away

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Jayawantiben Mehta passed away here today following a brief illness. She was 78.
Her last rites were performed at crematorium near Shivaji Park in Dadar this evening, with Union minister Piyush Goyal, state unit BJP president Raosaheb Danve and Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde in attendance among others.
Earlier, several leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and NCP chief Sharad Pawar offered floral tributes at her residence.
She is survived by a son and a daughter.
Jaywantiben rose in BJP ranks to become a corporator in 1968, before proceeding to become a legislator and an MP.

She had served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1996 to 1999. She had defeated Congress veteran late Murli Deora to become MP from South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency.

During the Emergency in 1975, she was imprisoned for 19 months. In 1978, she was elected as an MLA and served two terms up to 1985.
She had worked in various capacities as a member of the BJP national executive, party secretary, president of BJP Mahila Morcha (1991-1995) and party Vice-President (1993-1995).
In 1989, she was first elected to Lok Sabha and again in 1996 and 1999. She represented the Mumbai North East seat in the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 and Mumbai South in the 11th and 13th Lok Sabha in 1996 and 1999.

Expressing shock and grief, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said, "I had the privilege of working with Smt Jaywantiben Mehta as a ministerial colleague in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Jayawantiben made her distinct mark as Minister of State for Power and as a Parliamentarian."
He said Jaywantiben was a good orator and committed social worker who maintained her contacts with the people and helped various social organisations.
"In her demise, the state has lost an outstanding parliamentarian and a committed worker, while I have lost a senior colleague and guide," said the Governor.
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.
"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.