THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress veteran A K Antony's first press conference in many years has sent shockwaves through the party, with his cryptic remark about revealing "some hard truths" opening a Pandora's box of speculation.
The former defence minister, who had not confronted reporters in a formal news conference in a long time, on Tuesday asked the Indira Bhavan staff to inform the media of his press conference. Though the staff urged him to hold the press meet a bit earlier, around 3pm, he refused and asked them to make arrangements for a 5pm presser. The move caught the party leadership by surprise.
Party insiders say Antony is unhappy with the Congress' current performance both inside and outside the assembly and the manner in which its leadership is taking on the Pinarayi Vijayan government. "His statement that 'there is no one here putting up a defence' speaks a thousand words," a Congress leader said. "Antony was not used to responding politically, unless totally necessary.
It was CPI leader E Chandrasekharan who had criticised the police action in Sivagiri and Muthanga, not the chief minister. Antony was directing his words at leaders of his own party. He sought to know why they were not defending previous UDF governments when there was ample evidence in the form of inquiry reports validating decisions. Satheesan and former home ministers Ramesh Chennithala and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan did not utter a word in the House," he said.
Once the person who set the UDF's election agenda, Antony now appears to have triggered an agenda-setting debate within his own party. According to party sources, Antony is deeply disappointed with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan for allegedly snubbing him in public at a press conference. Like many others, the veteran leader is also unhappy with Satheesan's arbitrary style of functioning.
Some senior leaders are also believed to have conveyed to him 'details' of the actions of a discredited MLA and the alleged nexus within the party supporting him. After the party's poor performance early on in the ongoing assembly session, leaders close to Antony urged him to step in.
Earlier, when Oommen Chandy and Chennithala led the party and the legislative party, Antony was always consulted. However, since the change of leadership he has been sidelined. Leaders also pointed out instances when allegations of a malicious nature were raised against late CM Chandy and some of his cabinet colleagues, leaders like Chennithala stood with them as they knew these were ultimately aimed at the UDF and the Congress.
Many senior leaders have also conveyed to Antony the lack of progress in organisational reorganisation. There is also severe criticism among workers about the one-upmanship of a certain leader. Criticism has also been levelled at Satheesan for choosing a junior MLA to speak on the important issue of custodial brutality.
Breaking his long silence on Wednesday, Antony declared: "I haven't retired from politics." The high command, meanwhile, continues to weigh his views before taking a final call on organisational matters.
"Antony is still a heavyweight in Congress politics. He is now calling for order and collective responsibility in the organisation. He is also sending a message to the high command," a Congress MLA said.
