In what has turned out to be a huge embarrassment for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena combine, a Gujarati translation audio of Governor CV Rao's speech was played at the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had to tender an unconditional apology in the legislature.

As the matter came to light, Fadnavis got up and tendered an unconditional apology to the House and the members for the gaffe which he termed as “a very serious issue”.

The incident, ironically, occurred a day before the Marathi Language Day (February 27) and on the opening day of the Maharashtra Legislature's Budget Session on Monday when Governor Rao got up to make his customary address before a joint sitting of the members of the assembly and council.

Barely a few minutes into the speech in English which was delivered by Rao, most members were startled to hear a Gujarati translation on their headphones instead of Marathi.

Irate Opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party members created a ruckus, flaying the government for the Gujarati audio and vociferously demanded a Marathi translation audio.

"This is a very serious issue.. it cannot be taken lightly," said Congress Leader of Opposition in the assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.