Anil Antony, the son of Congress leader and former Union Minister AK Antony, has joined the BJP. This move comes after he quit the Congress in January amid controversy over the BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At a formal event today, BJP leaders Piyush Goyal, V Murlidharan, and K Surendran, the party’s Kerala unit chief, extended a warm welcome to Anil Antony.
In a statement to reporters, Anil Antony expressed his belief that he is working for the country rather than just a family, as is the perception of many Congress workers. He also praised PM Modi’s clear vision for putting India in a leading position in a multi-polar world. “Many leaders and workers of the Congress believe that their dharma is to work only for one particular family. My aim, however, is to work for the nation.” He said Praising PM Modi and his vision, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has a clear vision to ensure social and economic justice to every section of the society,” Antony junior said.
Before leaving the Congress, Anil Antony had run the party’s social media cell in Kerala. He had called the BBC documentary “prejudiced against India” and criticized the Congress for using it to attack PM Modi, accusing him of trying to diminish the opposition’s space in Indian politics.
Reacting to the news, BJP leader Piyush Goyal hailed Anil Antony’s credentials as “multi-faceted” and said his views on sustainable development were similar to those of PM Modi. He expressed confidence that Anil Antony would play an active role in expanding the BJP’s presence in southern India.
Anil Antony’s move is seen as a significant loss for the Congress, which is already facing internal conflicts and leadership struggles in various states. On the other hand, the BJP has been aggressively trying to expand its footprint in the southern states, and Anil Antony’s induction is expected to give the party a boost in Kerala.