Jothimani

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Jothimani Sennimalai

|native_name =

| office = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| term_start = 23 May 2019

| term_end =

| predecessor = M. Thambidurai

| constituency = Karur

| office1 = General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress

| term_start1 = 2009

| term_end1 = 2012

| office2 = Vice President of Tamil Nadu Youth Congress

| term_start2 = 2006

| term_end2 = 2008

| office3 = Member of Tamil Nadu Censor Board

| term_start3 = 2006

| term_end3 = 2009

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|08|09}}

| birth_place =Periya Thirumangalam, Tamil Nadu, India

| nationality =Indian

| residence =Periyathirumangalam, Koodalur West Village, Aravakurichi, Karur District, Tamil Nadu

| party =Indian National Congress

| occupation =Writer, political, and social worker

|website=

|image=Jothimani.jpg

}}

Jothimani Sennimalai (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.

Early life and education

Jothimani was born on 9 August 1975 at Periya Thirumangalam, Aravakurichi, Karur District to Sennimalai and Muthulakshmi. 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 Chair of College Students Union. She was an active participant in the NSS Camps in college and took part in social service activities.

Her academic degrees include: Master of Arts, Annamalai University, 2003;{{Cite web |last= |title=S. Jothi Mani |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/s-jothi-mani |access-date=2016-08-10 |website=India.gov.in}} and Master of Philosophy, Annamalai University, 2005.

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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/jothimani-gets-congress-ticket-for-karur-lok-sabha-seat/article5833845.ece|title=Jothimani gets Congress ticket for Karur Lok Sabha seat|date=26 March 2014|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-10}}

She was Member of Tamil Nadu Censor Board during 2006 to 2009.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.electionnow.tv/tn/news/2011/apr/iim-grads-techies-set-contest-tamil-nadu-polls|title=IIM grads, techies set to contest Tamil Nadu polls|website=electionnow.tv|access-date=2016-08-10|archive-date=28 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828122903/http://www.electionnow.tv/tn/news/2011/apr/iim-grads-techies-set-contest-tamil-nadu-polls|url-status=dead}}

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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jothimanis-campaign-kicks-up-row-in-karur/article8344116.ece|title=Jothimani's campaign kicks up row in Karur|date=12 March 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-10}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/assembly-elections-2016/tamil-nadu-polls/Why-Jothimani-Did-Not-Stand-a-Chance-Against-KCP/2016/04/15/article3381111.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820031330/http://www.newindianexpress.com/assembly-elections-2016/tamil-nadu-polls/Why-Jothimani-Did-Not-Stand-a-Chance-Against-KCP/2016/04/15/article3381111.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2016|title=Why Jothimani Did Not Stand a Chance Against KCP|access-date=2016-08-10}}

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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jothimani-agreed-not-to-contest/article8487845.ece|title=Jothimani agreed not to contest|date=18 April 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-10}} The Election was about to be held on 16 May 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.india.com/assembly-election-2016/tamil-nadu/aravakurichi/|title=Aravakurichi Assembly Election 2016 Latest News & Results|access-date=2016-08-10}} Then the election commission postponed it to 23 May 2016 and again postpone the polling along with Thanjavur Assembly constituencies to 13 June 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamilnadu2016/polls-in-aravakurichi-thanjavur-further-postponed/article8625827.ece|title=Polls in Aravakurichi, Thanjavur further postponed to June 13|date=20 May 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-10}} Finally Election Commission cancelled polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly seats.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Election-Commission-cancels-polls-to-Aravakurichi-and-Thanjavur-Assembly-seats/2016/05/29/article3455960.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529121155/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Election-Commission-cancels-polls-to-Aravakurichi-and-Thanjavur-Assembly-seats/2016/05/29/article3455960.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2016|title=Election Commission cancels polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly seats|access-date=2016-08-10}}

= 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.

Elections

=Lok Sabha elections=

Elections !Constituency !Party !Result !Vote percentage !Opposition Candidate !Opposition Party !Opposition vote percentage !Reference
class="wikitable sortable"
2014	Karur	\|INC	{{Lost}}	2.95	M. Thambidurai	AIADMK	\|52.36	{{Cite web \|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/33%20-%20Constituency%20wise%20detailed%20result.pdf \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=10 August 2016 \|archive-date=23 November 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123041546/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/33%20-%20Constituency%20wise%20detailed%20result.pdf \|url-status=dead }}
2019	Karur	\|INC	{{Won}}	63.1	M. Thambidurai	AIADMK	\|24.9
2024	Karur	\|INC	{{Won}}	47.3	Thangavel L	AIADMK	\|32.5	{{cite web \|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S2223.htm \|title=General Election to Parliamentary Constituencies: Trends & Results June-2024 Parliamentary Constituency 23 - KARUR (Tamil Nadu)}}

=Tamil Nadu Legislative elections=

class="wikitable sortable"
Elections !Constituency !Party !Result !Vote percentage !Opposition Candidate !Opposition Party !Opposition vote percentage !Reference
2011	Karur	INC	{{Lost}}	34.10	V. Senthil Balaji	AIADMK	61.18	{{Cite web \|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_TN_May2011.pdf \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=10 August 2016 \|archive-date=5 March 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020743/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_TN_May2011.pdf \|url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable sortable"

Elections

!Constituency

!Party

!Result

!Vote percentage

!Opposition Candidate

!Opposition Party

!Opposition vote percentage

!Reference

34.10

61.18

{{Cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_TN_May2011.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 August 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020743/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_TN_May2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Positions held

= State level =

Councillor of K.Paramathi panchayat union for two terms from 1996 to 2006.
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 =

Source:

Indian Youth Congress National Coordinator- Kerala – 2008 (Appointed through State level talent search by Young Congress MPs).
Indian Youth Congress general secretary – 2009 to 2012 (Appointed by Rahul Gandhi, through National level talent search).
State Returning Officer, Youth Congress Election – Kerala (Additional sharge).
Media panelist on State issues in Indian National Congress.
2019–present (23 May 2019) Member 17th Lok Sabha - Karur constituency

Books

Ottrai Vasanai – Short story collection{{Cite web |date= |title=Seventeenth Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile: Jothi Mani, Ms. S. |url=https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4981 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103124202/https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4981 |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |access-date=2016-08-10 |website=Parliament of India - LOK SABHA}}
Sithirak Koodu – Novel
Neer Pirakku Munn (Translated into English as No shortcut to Leadership)