• First elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and once again in 1992
  • 1996: She joins party leaders to form breakaway Tamil Maanila Congress
  • 1997: She resigns from the Rajya Sabha and is re-elected as a TMC member. She is appointed Minister of State for Coal, Civil Aviation and Parliamentary Affairs in United Front government at the Centre
  • July 12, 2011: Jayanthi replaces Jairam Ramesh as Environment Minister in the UPA-led Union government
  • November 16, 2013: She is asked by Ajay Maken to address media to attack then BJP prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the ‘Snoopgate’ issue
  • December 19, 2013: She notifies order on the protection of Western Ghats based on Kasturirangan report amid protests by sections holding economic interests in the region
  • December 20, 2013: She is forced to resign as Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) to ‘work for the Congress party’
  • December 21, 2013: Rahul Gandhi addresses FICCI meet: “Many of you have expressed your frustration with environmental clearances that are delaying projects unduly. There is excessive administrative and judicial discretion. The loopholes are so big you can drive a truck through some of them! Environmental and social damage must be avoided, but decisions must also be transparent, timely and fair.”
  • January, 2014: Environment Minister Veerappa Moily clears several pending mega projects
  • November 5, 2014: Jayanthi writes to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to express her anguish at the treatment meted out to her