Jayanthi Natarajan
Encyclopedia
Jayanthi Natarajan (born 7 June 1954) is an Indian lawyer and politician. She is a member of the Indian National Congress
and has been thrice elected Member of Parliament representing the state of Tamil Nadu
in the Rajya Sabha
. Since July 2011, she has been the Minister of Forests and Environment.
family in Tamil Nadu. Her grandfather was M. Bakthavatsalam
, a prominent Congress politician and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1963 and 1967. Jayanthi studied law and became a practising advocate in Madras. Apart from her commercial practice she also did pro bono work for a number of social organizations including the All India Women's Conference, and the legal aid board.She also worked briefly as a newscaster for for Doordarshan Kendra ,Madras
New reshuffle stands Jayanthi Natarajan to Environmment Minister. See Resources on Ministry of Environment and Forests
in the 1980s. She was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and re-elected in 1992.
decided to break away from the party. They founded the Tamil Maanila Congress
under G K Moopanar. Jayanthi Natarajan resigned from the Rajya Sabha and was re-elected in 1997 as a TMC member.
The TMC was allied with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
in Tamil Nadu and was a part of the United Front
government in the centre. Jayanthi Natarajan was appointed Minister of State for Coal, Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs in 1997.
and appointed spokesperson for the party.
She has replaced Mr. Jairam Ramesh as Environment Minister on July 12, 2011 in the UPA led Union Government.
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and has been thrice elected Member of Parliament representing the state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
. Since July 2011, she has been the Minister of Forests and Environment.
Early years
Jayanthi Natarajan was born in a MudaliarMudaliar
Mudaliar also Mudali, Moodley is a title used in Tamil diaspora. It is derived from the honorary title Mudali meaning a person of first rank in the Tamil language which was bestowed upon top-ranking bureaucratic officials and army commanders in medieval South India...
family in Tamil Nadu. Her grandfather was M. Bakthavatsalam
M. Bakthavatsalam
Minjur Bhaktavatsalam was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu. He served as the Chief Minister of Madras state from October 2, 1963 to March 6, 1967...
, a prominent Congress politician and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1963 and 1967. Jayanthi studied law and became a practising advocate in Madras. Apart from her commercial practice she also did pro bono work for a number of social organizations including the All India Women's Conference, and the legal aid board.She also worked briefly as a newscaster for for Doordarshan Kendra ,Madras
New reshuffle stands Jayanthi Natarajan to Environmment Minister. See Resources on Ministry of Environment and Forests
Congress Years
Her political career began when she was noticed by Rajiv GandhiRajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
in the 1980s. She was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and re-elected in 1992.
Tamil Maanila Congress
During the 90's Jayanthi Natarajan and other leaders from Tamil Nadu who were unhappy with Narasimha RaoNarasimha Rao
Narasimha Rao or Narasimharao is one of the Indian names.* Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao served as the 10th Prime Minister of India.* Modireddy Venkat Narasimha Rao, is a former Indian cricketer....
decided to break away from the party. They founded the Tamil Maanila Congress
Tamil Maanila Congress
The Tamil Maanila Congress was a political party in Tamil Nadu. It was started by G K Moopanar by breaking away from the Indian National Congress protesting the decision of the party high command to form an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. After the death of Moopanar, his...
under G K Moopanar. Jayanthi Natarajan resigned from the Rajya Sabha and was re-elected in 1997 as a TMC member.
The TMC was allied with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
in Tamil Nadu and was a part of the United Front
United Front (India)
The United Front was a coalition government of 13 political parties formed in India after the 1996 general elections. The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The government was headed by two Prime Ministers from Janata Dal - H. D. Deve Gowda, and I. K. Gujral...
government in the centre. Jayanthi Natarajan was appointed Minister of State for Coal, Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs in 1997.
Return to the Congress
With Moopanar's death the TMC leaders decided to merge with the Congress. Jayanthi Natarajan was noticed by Sonia GandhiSonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
and appointed spokesperson for the party.
She has replaced Mr. Jairam Ramesh as Environment Minister on July 12, 2011 in the UPA led Union Government.