THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader A K Antony said that he is very happy on the return of Cherian Philip to the Congress party. He said they have now got the opportunity to work closely as before. Antony said that all the leaders of the Congress had welcomed him back to the party.

‘We have not only a party relationship, but a family like relationship. Cherian took an emotional decision when he thought that he was neglected by the party and that due recognition was not given by the party. It was a shock for me. There was no contact between us for some time. Later I thought that he had his own reasons to resign from the congress. With that, my concerns ended. The personal relationship between us returned to normal. He visits me when I reach Kerala. When he comes to Delhi, he will come and meet me,’ said Antony.

Antony said that Cherian don’t need an advice when he returns to the party. There is one thing I noticed a lot. He has not taken a membership of the Marxist Party even after having a close relationship with the top leaders of the Marxist party and even after his free movement at the AKG Centre. A membership he has taken all his life is that of the Congress Party. Now we have got an opportunity to work as closely as we used to have. All congress leaders have welcomed him.

When asked whether Cherian would be given a post he deserves, Antony said, ‘'It is up to the KPCC chief to decide all that. I firmly believe that he will do the right thing. Cheriyan will not be going to the Rajya Sabha soon. As soon as joining the Congress does not mean that the next post is going to the Rajya Sabha. I don’t think Cherian Philip will also think like that, he said.