Former defence minister and Congress leader A.K. Antony has always maintained a spotless, carefully cultivated image in his seven-decadelong sojourn through democracy's pathways. But at the ripe old age of 84, the man once described as the St. Antony of Indian politics finds himself at a political crossroads. Elder son Anil Antony has defected to the BJP and is making his electoral debut in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat in south Kerala against one of his father's staunch followers, sitting Congress MP Anto Antony. CPI(M) leader and former state finance minister Dr Thomas Isaac is the third face in the contest. All the buzz in the constituency is whether Antony Sr will campaign in Pathanamthitta or not.
The veteran leader has not been keeping well, but on March 26 he made sure to let the press know where his loyalties lay. He said it is a "do or die battle" for the Congress and the country to save democracy. There is pressure on him to campaign in Pathanamthitta, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a BJP poll rally on March 19, pitching for Anil.
This story is from the April 08, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 08, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Shuttle Star
Ashwini Ponnappa was the only Indian to compete in the inaugural edition of BDMNTN-XL, a new international badminton tourney with a new format, held in Indonesia
There's No Planet B
All Living Things-Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) returns with 72 films to be screened across multiple locations from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8
AMPED UP AND UNPLUGGED
THE MAHINDRA INDEPENDENCE ROCK FESTIVAL PROMISES AN INTERESTING LINE-UP OF OLD AND NEW ACTS, CEMENTING ITS REPUTATION AS THE 'WOODSTOCK OF INDIA'
A Musical Marriage
Faezeh Jalali has returned to the Prithvi Theatre Festival with Runaway Brides, a hilarious musical about Indian weddings
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
Nikhil Advani’s adaptation of Freedom at Midnight details our tumultuous transition to an independent nation
Family Saga
RAMONA SEN's The Lady on the Horse doesn't lose its pace while narrating the story of five generations of a family in Calcutta
THE ETERNAL MOTHER
Prayaag Akbar's new novel delves into the complexities of contemporary India
TURNING A NEW LEAF
Since the turn of the century, we have lost hundreds of thousands of trees. Many had stood for centuries, weathering storms, wars, droughts and famines.
INDIA'S BEATING GREEN HEART
Ramachandra Guha's new book-Speaking with Nature-is a chronicle of homegrown environmentalism that speaks to the world
A NEW LEASE FOR OLD FILMS
NOSTALGIA AND CURIOSITY BRING AUDIENCES BACK TO THE THEATRES TO REVISIT MOVIES OF THE YESTERYEARS
