In a setback to Congress, Anil Antony joins BJP, months after quitting party over BBC docu tweet

In Kerala's Congress politics, what was thought to be a matter of time has happened now. Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran and former defence minister A K Antony joined the BJP on Thursday, months after quitting the Congress over his tweet criticising the controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Anil was inducted into the party in the presence of union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan with the BJP leaders welcoming the former Congress leader to their party at a formal event today.

While resigning from the Congress, he had tweeted: “I have resigned from my roles in @incindia @INCKerala. Intolerant calls to retract a tweet, by those fighting for free speech. I refused. @facebook wall of hate/abuses by ones supporting a trek to promote love! Hypocrisy thy name is! Life goes on (sic)”

“Considering the events from yesterday, I believe it would be appropriate for me to leave all my roles in the Congress as the convener of KPCC digital media and as the national co-ordinator of AICC social media and digital communication. I would like to thank everyone, especially the state leadership and Shashi Tharoor along with countless party workers who had wholeheartedly and guided me at various times during my brief period here,” he had said in his resignation letter to the party leadership.

In the letter, he also made took a jibe at the Congress saying that he was sure about his unique strength which could have enabled him to contribute very effectively to the party in many ways.

“However, by now I have been made well aware that you, your colleagues and the coterie around the leadership are keen to work with a bunch of sycophants and chamchas, who would unquestionably be at your beck and call. This has become the lone criterion of merit. Sadly, we don’t have much common ground,’’ he said.

Anil’s controversial stand on the BBC documentary had sparked sharp reactions. Several leaders demanded Anil’s removal as the coordinator of the Congress IT cell in Kerala.

The move comes as a setback to Congress as his father is a party veteran and loyalist.

Antony had tweeted, “Despite large differences with the BJP, I think those (in India) placing views of BBC, a state sponsored channel with a long history of (India) prejudices, and of Jack Straw (former UK foreign secretary), the brain behind the Iraq war, over (Indian) institutions is setting a dangerous precedence, will undermine our sovereignty.”

While the BJP said the tweet reflected “a sane voice”, the Congress had distanced itself from the comment.

“Anil Antony is a multi-faceted personality. I was very impressed when I saw the credentials of Anil Antony ji”, BJP leader Piyush Goyal said. “His views reflect similar with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on sustainable development”, he said.

“We have confidence that he will continue to play a very active role and help grow the BJP’s footprint in Southern India”, Goyal added.