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

Congress veteran AK Antony’s son, Anil Antony, is running as a BJP candidate in Kerala. AK Antony broke his silence to express that his son should lose and the Congress candidate, Anto Antony, should win with an absolute majority in the south Kerala constituency.

The former Kerala Chief Minister emphasized that he put his health issues aside to address the media, as he believes this election is critical to safeguard the idea of India and its constitution. He reiterated that for him, family and politics are separate, a stance he has maintained 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Anil Antony sharply reacted to his father’s remarks, stating that the Congress has outdated leaders and sympathizing only with his father for backing the sitting MP and Congress member Anto Antony. Anil also expressed confidence in winning in Pathanamthitta.

AK Antony’s stand has provided a significant boost to the Congress, particularly as the party has been on the defensive after Anil and late Congress stalwart K Karunakaran’s daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, switched over to the BJP in Kerala. There were also allegations from certain quarters about Anil Antony’s move to the BJP with the silent blessings of his family.

In a press conference post-COVID-19, Mr. Antony took on the BJP and the Left Front government in Kerala, emphasizing the need to rally behind the Congress to ‘reinvent’ India and protect the spirit of the Indian Constitution. He predicted that the BJP would finish in third place in all constituencies in Kerala due to the absence of factors favoring the party this year.

Mr. Antony also criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Communist Party, alleging that they have no right to criticize the Congress while claiming credit for the creation of India’s Constitution, which he attributed to the Indian National Congress and Dr. Ambedkar. AK Antony also warned about the dangers of BJP coming to power, stating that it would sabotage the constitution and lead to the end of democracy.

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