AK Antony, Veteran of Congress, Wishes His Son, Who Joined BJP, Loses Elections

Congress veteran AK Antony’s son, Anil Antony, is contesting as a BJP candidate in Kerala. Breaking his silence after a long gap, AK Antony expressed that his son “should lose, and his rival, the Congress candidate in the south Kerala constituency, Anto Antony, should win with an absolute majority”. The 83-year-old former Kerala Chief Minister said that he decided to address the media despite his health issues to make his stand clear, as he believes this election is crucial for “safeguarding the idea of India and its constitution.”

AK Antony emphasized that “for me, family and politics are different” and stated that he has maintained this stance since his days in the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student organization of Congress in Kerala. Anil Antony sharply reacted to his father’s remarks, stating that the Congress has outdated leaders and only sympathizes with his father for backing sitting MP and Congress member Anto Antony. Asserting his confidence in winning in Pathanamthitta, Anil’s statements have stirred controversy.

AK Antony’s stand has provided a significant boost to the Congress, especially since the party has been on the defensive after key members switched to the BJP in Kerala. There were allegations that Anil Antony had moved to the BJP with the silent blessings of his family, especially after a video of his mother, Elizabeth Antony, surfaced where she indicated her awareness of her son’s inclination towards the BJP. In a lengthy press conference post-COVID-19, AK Antony criticized the BJP and the Left Front government in Kerala, emphasizing the importance of rallying behind the Congress to ‘reinvent’ India and protect the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

He dismissed the BJP’s influence in Kerala, asserting that they will finish in the third place in all constituencies. Antony took a dig at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Communist Party, claiming that they had no role in creating India’s Constitution and called for people to vote for Congress to safeguard it. AK Antony also warned against the consequences of BJP coming to power, stating that it would sabotage the constitution and mark the end of democracy.

He called on the people to vote for Congress to end the rule of Narendra Modi and the RSS.