After quitting Congress over BBC documentary, A K Antony's son joins BJP

Senior Congress leader A K Antony's son Anil K Antony who had resigned from the Congress party, joined the BJP on Thursday in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan.

Welcoming Antony in the BJP, Goyal described him as a 'very grounded political worker', who was convinced that the BJP cares for the country and shared the prime minister's vision of sustainable growth.

''This is not about personalities, this is about difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. My respect for my father will remain the same,'' Anil Antony said when asked whether he had consulted his father before joining the BJP.

After joining saffron party, Anil Antony met party chief JP Nadda along with Union Minister V Muraleedharan.

Anil Antony, who was a Congress leader from Kerala, had resigned from the party in January this year after allegedly receiving threats over his objection to the controversial documentary released by BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anil was asked to retract the tweet. However, he did not do so and said, "Intolerant calls to retract a tweet by those fighting for free speech."

"I have resigned from my roles in Congress. 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," Anil Antony had tweeted announcing his split from Congress.

The two-part BBC documentary 'India: The Modi Question' on the 2002 Gujrat riots was criticised by several political leaders, including the ministry of external affairs which termed it a "propaganda piece without objectivity and reflection of a colonial mindset.

Anil held the position of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) digital media convener and national coordinator of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Anil joining the BJP comes as a setback for the Congress as his father is a party veteran and loyalist who has also been the Defence Minister. Anil's induction may help BJP expand its footprint in Kerala, where it has struggled to increase its vote share. In the last assembly election held in 2021, the BJP got over 12 per cent votes but failed to win any seat.

Veteran Congress leader AK Antony served as Kerala chief minister three times, from 1977 to 1978, 1995 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2004.