Veteran Congress leader and former Union Defence Minister AK Antony made a significant statement on Tuesday regarding his son, Anil K Antony, who is running as a BJP candidate in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.
Breaking his silence after a considerable hiatus, AK Antony said he wishes his son doesn’t win in the election. Instead, he asserted that his son’s rival, the Congress candidate Anto Antony, should secure a resounding victory.
Watch the video here:
Q. Your son is fighting his first election. Don’t you want him to win?
A. He must lose. Congress must win. AK Antony is Congress. Congress is my religion!
❤️ pic.twitter.com/T2tcowAMbw— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) April 9, 2024
The 83-year-old former Kerala Chief Minister emphasized that despite his health concerns, he felt compelled to address the media, viewing this election as a crucial battle to uphold the essence of India and its constitution.
AK Antony, India’s longest-serving Defence Minister, stressed the urgency of the situation in the country, labelling it as a “do-or-die battle”.
Citing health issues as a hindrance to his campaigning efforts, AK Antony remained firm in his conviction that Anto Antony would prevail with an overwhelming majority, even without his active involvement in Pathanamthitta.
He reiterated that his stance on family and politics has remained consistent throughout his tenure, dating back to his days in the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student organization of Congress in Kerala.
In response to queries regarding his son’s political affiliations, AK Antony affirmed his unwavering allegiance to the Congress, asserting that the party holds profound significance for him.
Boost for Congress in Lok Sabha polls
AK Antony’s declaration marks a significant boost for the Congress, particularly amid recent defections to the BJP in Kerala. Allegations suggesting tacit support from AK Antony’s family towards Anil’s move to the BJP surfaced, further complicating the political landscape.
In a post-Covid-19 press conference, AK Antony fervently opposed the BJP and the Left Front government in Kerala, urging citizens to rally behind the Congress to safeguard India’s ethos and uphold the spirit of the Indian Constitution.
He warned against the BJP’s alleged attempts to undermine the foundational principles of India and urged voters to prevent such a scenario by supporting Congress.
Highlighting BJP’s diminishing influence in Kerala, AK Antony predicted a third-place finish for the party in all constituencies in the state, attributing their past success to the Sabarimala women’s entry controversy during the 2019 General Elections.
In a scathing critique of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, AK Antony dismissed the Communist Party’s contribution to India’s Constitution, attributing its creation solely to the Indian National Congress and Dr. Ambedkar. He criticized the Communist Party’s stance during the Calcutta Thesis incident and accused Vijayan of lacking the authority to criticize Congress while advocating for constitutional protection.
AK Antony urged voters to elect Congress to counter the perceived threats posed by the BJP and the RSS to India’s democratic fabric. He warned against the potential sabotage of India’s constitution if BJP were to ascend to power, calling for concerted efforts to thwart such peril.
Photo from Anil Antony’s X handle
What Anil Antony said
Anil Antony, sharply reacting to his father’s statements, criticised the Congress for its outdated leadership and claimed confidence in his own victory in Pathanamthitta.
He expressed disdain for the party’s sympathy towards his father, a former defence minister and accused Congress of supporting Anto Antony, who had recently courted controversy with statements on the Pulwama terror attack.
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