New Delhi:
After the controversy over their presence at the inauguration of Bandra-Worli sealink in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has opted out of sharing the dais with superstar Amitabh Bachchan at another function in Pune on Sunday.
The two had been invited to the concluding function of a literary conference by its organizers.
Congress on Friday said it had not issued any direction to Chavan but attacked the mega-star, who is the brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism, for "being with Narendra Modi".
"Ask the chief minister (Chavan) whether he is going or not (to Pune). Congress has not issued any instructions," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi had told reporters.
Singhvi said it was the prerogative of the party to decide whether in an official function a person who is associated with Modi is invited.
The presence of Bachchan at the inauguration of second phase of the Bandra-Worli sealink in Mumbai a couple of days back had raised a controversy with Congress leaders from Mumbai taking objection to Chavan sharing platform with Bachchan.
The AICC had, however, sought to back the chief minister maintaining at the same time that the anger of party workers was justified in view of Bachchan's "identification" with Modi.