Fadnavis Apologises for Phone Use at Literary Event to Manage Rebel Candidates
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis faced criticism on Friday for taking phone calls during an inaugural literary event in Satara. However, he explained that he was attending to last-minute matters for the municipal polls, where several BJP candidates were threatening to contest as independents.Fadnavis was at the 99th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, a crucial day for withdrawal of candidature in 29 cities, including Mumbai and Pune. He acknowledged that he had to manage rebel candidates, who often don't withdraw their candidatures unless spoken to and pacified. Fadnavis maintained that he remained engaged with the event despite the calls and apologized to the literary fraternity for his actions.The BJP has faced internal dissent ahead of the polls, with many ticket aspirants denied tickets and opting to contest as independents. In a bid to prevent vote splits, Fadnavis and party leaders have been working to convince these rebels to withdraw their candidatures before the deadline. The efforts involved contacting disgruntled leaders, assuring them of organizational roles and future opportunities, as well as coordinating with senior leaders and local office-bearers to manage the situation.
