Anil will be thrown out like curry leaves by BJP: Antony's younger son

A day after Congress veteran and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony's son Anil joined the BJP snapping all association with the Congress, his brother Ajith on Friday said that his decision was an 'impulsive' one and the saffron party would throw him out like 'curry leaves' after using him.

According to Ajith, his father A.K. Anoty is devastated after seeing Anil accepting the BJP membership at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Anil joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V. Muraleedharan.

Speaking to reporters, Ajith said Anil had not given the slightest hint to the family about his decision, and it was a shock to all of them to see the news flash on channels about the development on Thursday.

''Pappa (A.K. Antony) was seen sitting with utmost pain in a corner of the house. I have never ever seen him so weak like this in my life. He did not shed tears, that's all,'' Ajith said.

He said his brother might have his own reasons to join BJP and said he used to receive several abusive calls from unknown Congress party workers, which might have had hurt him. ''I thought he might have gone away from the (Congress) party out of anger, but I never ever thought that he would go to the BJP. The decision was a totally unexpected one,'' Anil's younger brother said.

Terming Anil's decision to join the BJP as 'very impulsive', Ajith said he believes that he will come back to the Congress party after rectifying his mistakes. He may continue to remain in the BJP if he feels that it is good for his political future, Ajith said in response to a question. ''He probably would have gone, as he felt that it would be good for him. But, I will say again and again that they (BJP) will throw him out like curry leaves,'' he said.

Citing the examples of leaders like Alphons Kannanthanam and Tom Vadakkan, who had joined the BJP a few years ago, Ajith said BJP would use everyone temporarily and throw them out like used curry leaves.

After Anil joined BJP, an emotionally charged A.K. Antony had said in Kerala that it was a 'wrong decision' and a 'very painful' moment for him.

Anil, who headed the Digital Media Cell of Congress in Kerala, quit the party in January this year after criticising the party's stand on the controversial documentary series of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slammed the Congress leadership for working for a single family instead of for the country.