India, Jan. 14 -- After Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai's remarks about Mumbai sparked a row in Maharashtra ahead of the municipal polls, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended him, attributing his remarks to a "language mix-up."

The CM's clarification came after sharp reactions from Opposition parties including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) of the Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj.

Annamalai, who was one of the star campaigners for the BJP ahead of the civic polls in Maharashtra, had remarked on January 9 that "Bombay" was not Maharashtra's city but an international one. His use of Mumbai's old name was also a point of contention.

Responding to the row, Fadnavis said, "Annamalai may not be a nati...