Jothimani

Jothimani Sennimalai (Tamil: ஜோதிமணி சென்னிமலை; born 9 August 1975), also known mononymously as Jothimani, is an Indian politician, writer, and social worker. A member of the Indian National Congress, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Karur, Tamil Nadu in 2019. Having joined politics at a young age, Jothimani served separate terms as the General Secretary and Vice President of Indian Youth Congress and Tamil Nadu Youth Congress respectively.

Jothimani Sennimalai
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
23 May 2019
Preceded byM. Thambidurai
ConstituencyKarur
General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress
In office
2009–2012
Vice President of Tamil Nadu Youth Congress
In office
2006–2008
Member of Tamil Nadu Censor Board
In office
2006–2009
Personal details
Born (1975-08-09) 9 August 1975
Periya Thirumangalam, K.Paramathy block
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress
ResidencePeriyathirumangalam, Koodalur West Village, Aravakurichi, Karur District, Tamil Nadu
OccupationWriter, political, and social worker

Early life and education

Jothimani was born on 9 August 1975 at Periya Thirumangalam, Aravakurichi, Karur District to Sennimalai and Muthulakshmi.[1] Her father Sennimalai was a farmer. She lost her father Sennimalai in her childhood. With the support of her mother Muthulakshmi, she completed her Graduation at Sri G.V.G Visalakshi College for Women, Udumalaipet. During her college days, she was elected as Chairman of College Students Union. She was an active participant in the NSS Camps in college and took part in social service activities. She was Member of Tamil Nadu Censor Board during 2006 to 2009.

Degree

Political career

Early career

Jothimani enter the field of politics at her age of 22. She was an active worker in Indian Youth Congress and a close associate of the Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi.[3]

She has represented the Indian Youth Congress at international forums like American Council for Young Political Leaders that was held in the US in 2006 and Asian Young Leader's Summit 2009 in Malaysia. She was also selected for Vital-Voice of Asia Asian Women Leaders Meet held in New Delhi in 2010.[4]

Jothimani then unsuccessfully contested the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election after securing the Indian National Congress' candidature from Karur constituency.

Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 2016

In July, 2015, Jothimani launched her election campaign from Aravakurichi constituency for 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. She has intensified the campaign on the ground and through social media as well. She has been meeting various sections of the people in the constituency and called upon them to give a "missed call" if they supported her candidature. Calendars and pamphlets explaining the initiative have been distributed across the constituency. Her Facebook and Twitter account with the hashtag, 'Aravakurichi 2016,' are replete with postings and pictures of her interaction with voters of the constituency. She has also formed youth groups to reach out to the voters.[5]

Between the time the DMK and Congress declared that the national party – Congress would contest from 41 seats and the announcement about which the seats were, there was a rather extended period of silence, filled with suspense. When Aravakurichi did not figure on the Congress list, Jothimani unleashed a volley of strong criticisms and even threatened to contest as an independent candidate. But the alliance leader put its foot down, refusing to concede. For one, this is one of the rare seats that the DMK bagged in the last Assembly election. More importantly, the sitting MLA, the one who is seeking re-election this time, is K C Palanisamy, an important leader in the party affairs in many ways.[6]

After a meeting with her supporters, she said that she has decided not to contest in the Aravakurichi constituency in the overall interest of the Congress party.[7] The Election was about to be held on 16 May 2016.[8] Then the election commission postponed it to 23 May 2016 and again postpone the polling along with Thanjavur Assembly constituencies to 13 June 2016.[9] Finally Election Commission cancelled polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly seats.[10]

2019 Election to the Parliament

Jothimani attained the Indian National Congress' candidature for the Indian general election, 2019 from Karur constituency of the Lok Sabha. In what was seen as a major upset by many media outlets and political analyst, Jothimani went on to defeat veteran All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, M. Thambidurai who had previously served as Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Speaker and in the Union Cabinet.

Activism

Controversy with BJP Karu Nagarajan

During a live interview in a private television about the spread of COVID-19 in India on May 18, 2020, a Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Karu Nagarajan made sexist remarks against Jothimani when she criticized the Bhartiya Janata party in mishandling the Immigrant crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Jothimani quit the show on live television claiming that the BJP spokesperson made personal remarks after he was unable to answer her questions. The video went viral and Jothimani received huge support from people.[11] The hashtag #I_standwith_Jothimani trended on social media.[12][13]

Elections
Elections Constituency Party Result Vote percentage Opposition Candidate Opposition Party Opposition vote percentage
2011 Tamil Nadu state assembly electionKarurINCLost34.10V. Senthil BalajiAIADMK61.18[14]
2014 Indian general electionKarurINCLost2.91M. ThambiduraiAIADMK51.64[15]
2019 Indian general electionKarurINCWon63.06M. ThambiduraiAIADMK24.94[15]

Positions held

State Level[1]
  • Councillor of K.Paramathi panchayat union for two terms from 1996 to 2006.[3]
  • District General Secretary of Karur district Congress from 1997 to 2004.
  • Council Member of Tamil Nadu Congress Commeitte from 1998 to 2000.
  • Vice President, Tamil Nadu Youth Congress from 2006 to 2008.
  • Member, Tamil Nadu Censor Board from 2006 to 2009.

National Level[1]

Books
  • Ottrai Vasanai – Short story collection[1]
  • Sithirak Koodu – Novel[1]
  • Neer Pirakku Munn (Translated into English as No shortcut to Leadership)[1]

Awards
  • Prestigious Ilakkiya Chinthanai Award for Best short story, 1999[1]
  • Shakthi Award for Best short story collection, 2007[1]

See also

References
  1. "Karur Jothimani: Jothimani Biodata English". karurjothimani.blogspot.in. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. ADR. "Jothimani(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- KARUR(KARUR) – Affidavit Information of Candidate". myneta.info. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. "Jothimani gets Congress ticket for Karur Lok Sabha seat". The Hindu. 26 March 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. "IIM grads, techies set to contest Tamil Nadu polls". electionnow.tv. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  5. "Jothimani's campaign kicks up row in Karur". The Hindu. 12 March 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. "Why Jothimani Did Not Stand a Chance Against KCP". Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  7. "Jothimani agreed not to contest". The Hindu. 18 April 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  8. "Aravakurichi Assembly Election 2016 Latest News & Results". Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  9. "Polls in Aravakurichi, Thanjavur further postponed to June 13". The Hindu. 20 May 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  10. "Election Commission cancels polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly seats". Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  11. "'இத்தாலிச் சோனியா இந்தியர் மோடியை…'- கரு.நாகராஜனுக்கு ஆதரவாக எச்.ராஜா வாதம்". NDTV.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  12. ""நாகரிக அரசியலை பாஜகவினர் கற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்" - சர்ச்சை பேச்சுக்கு எழும் கண்டனங்கள்". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). 19 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  13. "ஜோதிமணி எம்.பி.யை தரக்குறைவாக விமர்சித்து சர்ச்சையில் சிக்கிய கரு.நாகராஜன்: வலுக்கும் கண்டனங்கள்". Hindu Tamil Thisai. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  14. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_TN_May2011.pdf
  15. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/33%20-%20Constituency%20wise%20detailed%20result.pdf
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