In a major setback for the Indian National Congress, Anil Antony, the son of former Defence Minister AK Antony, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Thursday. This move has come as a surprise to many, as AK Antony has been one of the most prominent Congress leaders in the state of Kerala. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Anil Antony’s decision to join the BJP and its implications for the Congress party.
Who is Anil Antony and Why did he join BJP?
Anil Antony is a former Congress leader and a well-known figure in the state of Kerala. He was a member of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and served as the party’s Social Media Team Coordinator. However, he resigned from all his posts in the Congress party in January this year after the row over the BBC’s documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Anil Antony was critical of the BBC documentary and had tweeted, “Despite large differences with BJP, I think those in India placing views of BBC, a UK state-sponsored channel with a long history of prejudices, and of Jack Straw, the brain behind the Iraq war, over Indian institutions is setting a dangerous precedence, will undermine our sovereignty”. He also alleged that he had received threats and hate messages “through the night”.
Anil Antony’s decision to join the BJP has been widely speculated to be a result of his growing differences with the Congress party. He has been critical of the party’s leadership in the state and has expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the party has been functioning.
Anil Antony Joins BJP in the Presence of Prominent BJP Leaders
Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into the BJP.
The BJP has been making significant inroads into Kerala in recent years, and Anil Antony’s decision to join the party is seen as a significant boost to its prospects in the state. The BJP has been targeting the state aggressively and has been trying to increase its footprint in the southern states of India.
Implications for the Congress Party
The Congress party has been facing a severe crisis in Kerala, with several leaders defecting to other parties in recent months. Anil Antony’s decision to join the BJP is a significant setback for the Congress party, and it remains to be seen how the party will respond to this development.
The Congress party has been struggling to regain its lost ground in Kerala, and this latest development is likely to further dent its prospects in the state. The party’s leadership will have to introspect and take corrective measures to prevent further defections from its ranks.
(Inputs from agencies)
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Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an Indian journalist and online editor at The Chenab Times. Based in Thathri, Doda, he reports on regional affairs, civic governance, and human-interest stories across Jammu and Kashmir. Rihat also maintains a personal website, tahirrihat.com, where he shares professional updates and reflections on journalism in the Chenab Valley.
