- Age: 60 years (birth 7 June 1954)
- Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Environment and Forests from July 2011 to December 2013
New Delhi, 1 February 2015: Jayanthi’s political career took when Rajiv Gandhi spotted her work in 1980s. She is grand-daughter of Congress veteran former Tamil Nadu CM Bakthavatsamal, Congress’s last CM in the state
1986 – First elected to Rajya Sabha, again in 1992, 1997 and in 2008
1996 – Joined party leaders to form breakaway Tamil Maanila Congress under G K Moopanar. Resigned from RS
1997 – Re-elected as Tamil Maanila MP. Appointed MoS Coal, Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs
2002 – Tamil Maanila merges with Congress
2007 – Made party spokesperson
July 2011 – Replaces Jairam Ramesh as Environment Minister
December 19. 2013 – Notifies order on protection of Western Ghats
December 20, 2013 – Asked to quit post to ‘work for party’ before Lok Sabha polls
November 5, 2014 – Jayanthi writes in anguish to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi over how party’s treated her
Some of the important points from her letter to Sonia Gandhi-
On termination – (Then PM Manmohan Singh) praised the excellent work I’d done as minister. It was clearly not PM or my work that let to my outster.
“On Dec 20, 2013, Dr. Singh summoned me … He stood up.. tense and grim… said Jayanthi, I’ve been told by Congress president your services are required for party work. I said, so what should I do? He replied she wants you to resign. I was shocked and said, Resign Sir? But when? He replied ‘Today’… On telephone… you reiterated I should resign
Eavesdropper – “Ajay Maken on Nov 16. 2013, asked me to come to Delhi immediately to address a press conference on the issue. I expressed my disinclination to do this… Maken told me I had no choice in the matter. I was to fiercely attack Modi on TV channels”
Lost Adani file in toilet – “When I sent for the Adani file, I was told it was missing. My officials found it… in the washroom of the computer section… the day I’d been asked to resign. Clearly some in my then Ministry did not want to send that file back to me”
Blaming Rahul – “The day after I resigned, Rahul addressed a FICCI meeting where he made uncomplimentary references to delays in environmental clearances. He assured the corporate world that the party and govt world ensure no delays and bottlenecks for industry”
Conversing with press – “I told you media was keen I should speak, you told me not to meet the media… Ajay Maken informed my name was removed as party spokesperson, …decision taken at the highest level”
Sonia-Rahul and companies – “There was news that my removal was because I notified the order on protection of Western Ghats on Dec 19, 2013, (one day before removal)… Moily, put my orders on hold”
“I took great care to ensure tribals’ interests were protected… rejected environmental clearance to Vedanta despite pressure from cabinet colleagues”
“The same happened in the Adani projects, where I faced criticism from within cabinet and outside for stalling investment”
“Complaints of fisherfolk and NGOs in the Adani case were forwarded to me by Rahul’s office, and I was told to liaise with Dipak Babaria”
“Pulok Chatterji, principal secretary to PM was in constant touch with me, guiding decisions to be taken by he ministry”
