Anil Antony in limelight as election heats up in Pathanamthitta

PATHANAMTHITTA: It was on Tuesday that veteran congress leader A K Antony appeared at a press conference and made a strange wish to see his son Anil Antony lose the coming elections. Adding more spice came Dalal Nandakumar’s bribery allegation against Anil.

Pathanamthitta election which was hitherto concentrated on the fall in rubber prices and wild animal attacks, quickly tilted their zone of interest to controversies surrounding Anil Antony. Meanwhile, Anil and UDF candidate Anto Antony have been at loggerheads over bribery allegations. The LDF is also using the corruption case involving Anil and PJ Kurian as a propaganda weapon. Nandakumar alleged that Anil Antony had taken a bribe of Rs 25 lakh for the appointment of CBI Standing Consul.

Even Congress leader P J Kurian admitted to knowing the issue. Challenging back, Anil asked Nandakumar to release the proof of the deal and called him a stooge of UDF candidate Anto Antony. Anil also accused the congress of playing derogatory politics in the face of a defeat in Pathanamthitta.

Nandakumar, who made the allegation, was jailed in the CBI case and is accused of stealing a revered idol from his family temple. Anil also accused UDF candidate Anto Antony and his family of defrauding four cooperative banks.

Meanwhile, Anto Antony called Anil ill-informed and said he was open to facing any investigation from the state and central government about Anil’s allegation of him minting money through cooperative banks. Meanwhile, Anil also lashed attack at P J Kurian terming him the one who cheated his father A K Antony in politics. Anil said it was Kurian’s move to bring Antony to do a presser and make strange comments.