BJP Stalwart Jayawantiben Mehta Dead

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Jayawantiben Mehta passed away at Mumbai on Monday following a brief illness. She was 78.

Her last rites were performed at crematorium near Shivaji Park in Dadar on Monday 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).

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao condoled her death and recalled his association with her as a Union Minister.