Seizing on the development, Marxist stalwart and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, however, taunted Chandy, asking him to introspect whether he should continue in office after getting such a "certificate" from his senior colleague.
After a cabinet meet this evening, Chandy said the way media projected the issue was different from what Antony had meant. "Antony was concerned about trade union issues in the BrahMos unit here. The unions even had boycotted yesterday's function, which was not proper on their part."
"Antony had talked to me before and after the function. However, different versions of his remarks came out in the media," he said, declining to take further questions on it.
Chandy said the registration of trade unions at BrahMos unit here as they flouted norms by boycotting an important function.
Earlier, Achuthanandan asked Chandy if he would remain in office after being hit by the critical comments from his party senior. "This certificate has come from a person occupying the second slot in the Union Cabinet. Would Chandy display that around his neck and continue in office. Let him decide," the former chief minister told reporters here.
In a candid speech targeting the Chandy government at a function at BrahMos unit yesterday, Antony regretted that the atmosphere in Kerala was not conducive for bringing defence sector projects.
Causing deep embarrassment to Chandy and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, who were present, Antony went on to say the situation was much better during previous LDF regime, headed by Achuthanandan and he had received total support from it in his endeavour to bring several projects to Kerala.
Antony's speech was interpreted by political circles and local media as a clear expression of displeasure at the way UDF had been conducting the state's affairs in the last one-and-a-half years.
The unions at BrahMos, including those affiliated to pro- Congress INTUC, had been at loggerheads with the management of BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd.
The Indo-Russian missile production unit was set up here in 1998 after the central takeover of a loss-making state enterprise.
