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Some Congress leaders had given up fight even before polls: Narayan Rane

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In a veiled attack on former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane alleged on Tuesday that many candidates in fray for the assembly polls were not provided funds and some party leaders had given up the fight even before the voting.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Rane, who was Congress campaign committee chief, said that during the tours that he undertook to canvass for the party, it was brought to his notice that candidates did not get the funds sent by the party.

"It is the responsibility of the chief minister and the funds are normally routed to the candidates through the chief minister," Rane said. 

He also denied any knowledge about the alleged theft of Rs 10 crore, which were meant to be sent the candidates for their campaign expenditure. "The amount of Rs 10 crore is nothing in an election campaign and the entire campaign does not come to a standstill because of this amount. Many party leaders had given up the fight even before it started," he said.

Rane said if there was indeed a theft, a police case would have been registered. "Since there is no FIR, hence there is no need to believe the speculation," he added.

Rane said when the 15-year-old alliance with NCP broke, it was evident that the Congress would lose power. "Some people in our party gave up the fight and surrendered even before the voting," he said without taking any names.

He said that in the capacity of election campaign committee chief, he would write to the party high command, seeking action against such leaders.

Hitting out at the former ally NCP, Rane said the state leadership of NCP was in full attendance at the swearing in of Devendra Fadnavis at Wankhede stadium.

"NCP's hidden pact with BJP was known before elections. However, it is not yet known whether the NCP's outside support to the minority government is for self protection or stable overnment," Rane said in reference to corruption cases against the NCP leaders. 

Rane also hit out at the Shiv Sena for making "desperate" and "shameful" attempts to join the BJP government.

"If Bal Thackeray taught Shiv Sainiks self respect, his son Uddhav is acting as a desperate person with selfish interests," he charged. Shiv Sena should stop talking about Marathi asmita (pride), he said.

To a question on Congress legislature party leader, the former Maharashtra chief minister said that an opposition leader needs to have an in-depth study of the administration and governance to keep the government on its toes.

"I don't want those whose names are doing rounds to be the Congress leader in the legislature," Rane, who lost the assembly polls, said when asked who was the apt choice.

Replying to a query, Rane said there was no Modi wave in the state, because out of the 27 meetings addressed by the prime minister, 16 candidates for whom he had campaigned, were defeated.

When asked if he wanted to be the state Congress president or be in the Legislative Council as there is one vacancy after the election of Prithviraj Chavan to the Assembly, Rane said he had not given it a thought.

"I will take a call after I get an offer," he said.

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