‘Bhavani of Bhulleshwar’ Jaywantiben Mehta laid to rest

Jaywantiben Mehta (78) was one of the first women from a right-wing party to become a corporator. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

Former Union minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled government Jaywantiben Mehta, died after a prolonged illness on Monday morning. She was 78. The last rites were conducted at Shivaji Park Hindu Crematorium, which was attended by MPs Gopal Shetty, Kirit Somaiya and Poonam Mahajan, BJP’s state president Raosaheb Danve, city BJP president Ashish Shelar and Cabinet minister Vinod Tawde. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his condolences.

Popularly known as the Bhavani of Bhulleshwar, Mehta rose to prominence by becoming one of the first women from a right-wing party to become a corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. She first got elected in 1968 and went on to win consecutive elections from Bhulleshwar.

During the Emergency, she was jailed for 19 months. The next phase in her career started with her being elected as a MLA in 1978 serving till 1985. She then went on to become a MP in 1989 from the North East Constituency, being re-elected in 1996 and 1999 from Mumbai South, where she defeated Congress strongman Murli Deora, only to be defeated by his son Milind Deora in the 2004 general elections.

Ms Mehta served as a minister of power in the Vajpayee government from 1999-2004. After this, she was in a state of unofficial retirement from politics. Her autobiography was launched by PM Narendra Modi, then the chief minister of Gujarat.

Ms Mehta had later expressed her displeasure stating that only new faces were being given prominence and that in politics there should be a mix of both youth and experience.

However, with Ram Naik — who had retired — being made a state governor, hopes were rekindled that she too would be accommodated in one of the Raj Bhavans in the country.