Jayanthi Natarajan quits from Cabinet as Environment Minister, to work for party

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Jayanthi Natarajan tendered her resignation from the post of Minister of State for Environment and Forests on Saturday with Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily being handed over the additional charge of the Environment Ministry. Natarajan (59) resigned from the Union Cabinet as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi wants her to help the party ahead of the 2014 General Elections, reports suggested. She is likely to assume a bigger role in the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year. The recent developments could also be a result of drubbing that Congress faced in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Reports also said that more ministers are expected to follow suit. Her resignation has been accepted by President Pranab Mukherjee, a release from the President`s office said. Natarajan, a senior member of Rajya Sabha for the third term, hails from Tamil Nadu and was brought in the ministry two years ago.