Maharashtra CM advances Pune visit by a day to avoid sharing stage with Big B

Pune, Mar.28 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan opted to play safe in not sharing the stage with Gujarat brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan at a function in Pune on Sunday. Instead, he decided to visit the city on Saturday.

Chavan took the decision after attracting flak from the central leadership of the Congress party for being seen on the same stage as Bachchan during last Wednesday's Bandra-Worli sea link function.

According to a private television channel report, both Bachchan and Chavan were invited to the concluding session of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Pune on March 28.

Chavan, however, denied he had advanced his visit by a day on the directive of the Congress leadership.

"I have not received any such directive", he said.

Chavan said he decided to drop in at the Sammelan on Saturday as he was passing through Pune on his way to Baramati where he was scheduled to inaugurate a sports tournament.

Several Congress workers in Maharashtra were reportedly upset over Chavan sharing the stage with Bachchan in Mumbai last week. (ANI)