Big B at sealink opening irks Congress

Actor Amitabh Bachchan’s presence at the inauguration of the second carriageway of the Bandra-Worli sealink has triggered a fresh row between the ruling allies — Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Dharmendra Jore and Zeeshan Sheikh report.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan’s presence at the inauguration of the second carriageway of the Bandra-Worli sealink has triggered a fresh row between the ruling allies — Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

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Senior Congress leaders objected to the actor sharing the dais with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan at Wednesday’s function. Some Congressmen boycotted the function.

The angry Congressmen promptly complained to the party chief Sonia Gandhi, who has reportedly sought explanation from Chavan.

Congressmen had a reason to do so because the link is named after the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia had thrown the first carriageway open to public last year. Amitabh had developed differences with his childhood friend Rajiv over 20 years ago. After the split, Amitabh and his wife Jaya got associated with the Samajwadi Party and have been working against the Congress.

Chavan told media that he did not know the actor would be there. “Bachchan’s name was not there in the invitation (circulated by the organisers). I don’t know what a person, who is brand ambassador of neighbouring Gujarat, was doing at the ceremony,” Chavan said.

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), the private developer that built the sealink along with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, claimed that the actor had been invited by the NCP to add glamour to the event. “NCP’s other choice was (cricketer) Sachin Tendulkar,” said a HCC official requesting anonymity.

“I don’t know who invited him to the government function,” said Mumbai Region Congress president Kripashankar Singh.