India, Jan. 2 -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday apologised for speaking on the phone during the inaugural session of a Marathi literary event in Satara, saying he was managing rebel candidates on the last day for withdrawal of candidature for municipal polls.

Fadnavis attended the 99th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, hours before the deadline for withdrawal of candidature for municipal polls across 29 cities, including Mumbai and Pune, ended at 3pm.

"People know that I do not speak on the phone when I am on the dais. But today I had no option," Fadnavis said, citing the last day for withdrawal of candidature. "There are rebel candidates in every party. They do not withdraw unless they are spoken to and ...