‘Nobody knows him’: PC George speaks up against Anil Antony’s LS candidature

George, who merged his party, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular), with the BJP last month, has openly expressed his intention to contest from Pathanamthitta LS seat.

Referring to Anil’s candidature, George, a seven-time MLA from Poonjar constituency, which comes under Pathanamthitta LS seat, said, “Nobody knows Anil Antony. It is a big task to introduce him before the electorate. He has no links with Kerala. The only thing is that he is the son of A K Antony. But the father is still with Congress, if he were with BJP, things would have been better.’’

George said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, SNDP Yogam (Hindu Ezhava community outfit) general secretary Vellappally Natesan and BDJS (an NDA ally) president Thushar Vellappally were against his candidature.

“I haven’t asked for any seat (to contest). But even NDA leaders in Pathanamthitta looked forward to my candidature from the constituency. They have even communicated their desire to the BJP leadership. I could not do justice to those who recommended me as a candidate. Still, we can make an attempt for Anil Antony,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, BJP state president K Surendran went into a damage control exercise. “Goerge has joined BJP unconditionally. The party central and state leaderships would give due consideration to George. Candidates were selected after weighing various factors. List of candidates in a few seats is yet to come out,” Surendran said.

George had earlier been with the Kerala Congress (M) and had served as the then Congress-led UDF government’s chief whip in the state Assembly from 2011 to 2015. Subsequently, he parted ways with the party and fought from Poonjar as an Independent candidate in the 2016 Assembly polls. Banking on his popularity, George retained his stronghold, defeating the candidates from CPM, Congress and BJP; a rare feat in the state.

However, he lost the seat in the 2021 Assembly elections.

In 2017, George formed the Kerala Janapaksham (Secular), which backed the NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, his party had then not joined the NDA as an ally. His son Shone, a district panchayat member of Kottayam, has also joined the BJP along with George last month.

In 2018, George had rallied behind the BJP during the party’s protests against young women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. In 2022, his remarks against the Muslim community have sparked controversies. He had also asked non-Muslims to “boycott” restaurants run by the Muslim community. When he faced a case over his alleged hate remarks, the BJP had rushed to his defence.