Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Wednesday said that no alliance, which is not led by the Congress, can stop BJP in 2024. He also said the leadership of Nehru–Gandhi family members is vital to the Congress.
He was answering a volley of questions from the media on the reasons behind the rejection of election strategist Prashant Kishor 's report for the revival of the party. Antony was interacting with the media, a day before he permanently leaves Delhi and settles down in his home state Kerala.
“Alliances without Congress can’t stop BJP in 2024. Congress is a national party and must have an umbrella role in making alliances with regional parties. We value all regional parties who wanted to stop this regime, which created a lot of divisions in the society’s fabric. Also, I have to tell that people are in an illusive world if they think of a leadership in Congress without the Nehru-Gandhi family.
"The Nehru-Gandhi family is vital for the Congress as it is the powerhouse and the guiding force of the party. Without the family, the Congress would not be acceptable to 99 per cent of its workers across the country,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want to talk much on the reasons behind the rejections of Prashant Kishor’s report.
The former Defence Minister said that he will not be able to attend the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur as the doctor has prescribed three months of complete rest till July 15.
“I am leaving Delhi permanently tomorrow and going to settle in Thiruvananthapuram. I am leaving active politics in national level and wanted to play only complementary activities in home state. I have a room in Pradesh Congress Committee Office and will be there as long as they permit,” said Antony asking media to wait for the outcome of forthcoming Chintan Shivir atUdaipur.
Antony said that he is having medical problems after re-infected with Covid last year. “I discussed with my wife 18 months ago and decided to leave Delhi and informed party leadership,” he said.