Can Congress' Two-Time MP Anto Antony Overcome The Bigger Challenge In Pathanamthitta (Photo on Facebook Anto Antony)Anto Antony, The Congress MP from Pathanamthitta has been given fourth chance to contest from his sitting seat after the last three consecutive victories. Born in 1957 in Moonnilavu, Kerala, the three-time Pathanamthitta MP has completed his studies at Government Law College, Ernakulam, and the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences.
With CPM fielding former Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac against the sitting MP, the seat might see one the toughest competition given the reduced votes share of Congress’s Anto Antony in the last two general elections.
Emerging from student politics, Antony began his political life by being part of the Congress Student Wing Kerala Student Union (KSU). In his debut electoral contest in 2009, Anto Antony emerged victorious against the CPM’s K. Ananthagopan, securing a majority of over one lakh in his debut while the CPM candidate trailed behind with 297,026 votes.
The victory however marked the seasoned politician’s foray into the Lok Sabha. The Congress MP then consecutively retained the seat in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. His re-election in 2014 however saw his votes share declining as he received a majority of 58,836 votes.
Antony secured the seat for the third consecutive term, defeating the CPM strongwoman Veena George in 2019. Notably, the 2019 general election saw his vote share reducing further. The 66-year-old graduate has over 77 lakh assets. He has one criminal case against him. As a parliamentarian, Antony boasts 81 percent attendance and participated in 61 debates. He has raised 386 questions and introduced 2 private bills in different sessions.
The BJP though not a considerable force in the constituency has improved its vote share securing 28 per cent votes in the 2019 general elections. The saffron party has fielded Anil K Antony, the son of the Congress veteran and former Chief Minister AK Antony to take on the incumbent Congress MP.
Anto Antony recently faced criticism after he made a remark about the 2019 Pulwama attack. The MP said that they (BJP) won the last election by sacrificing the lives of 42 soldiers who were deployed in sub-zero temperatures in an area which had less than 40 per cent oxygen content.
“The then Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik, had said that the explosion was an artificially created one and the government was responsible for the death of 42 soldiers,” the MP said. The comment sparked controversy with the state BJP chief demanding strict action against the Congress MP over his comment.