He was commenting on the controversy surrounding the Maharashtra Congress party chief Manikarao Thakre, who accepted money for the party's chief, Sonia Gandhi's, rally in Wardha on Thursday. Deshmukh, while speaking to journalists in his home town Latur, bluntly said, "Funds have to be raised for running the party and that money is generated from the well wishers and party workers."

Deshmukh said that there was huge response to the Congress flag march held in Sewagram in Wardha in which hundreds and thousands of people from all parts of Maharashtra participated and made it a great success.

Two days prior to Sonia's rally, Thakre and senior Congress leader Satish Chaturvedi were caught on television camera discussing about raising funds for the rally, with Thakre telling Chaturvedi that the state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had promised to send two crores rupees from is personal account and has also asked his ministers to shell out 10 lakhs rupees each for the rally.

This conversation proved to be a major embarrassment for the Congress.

To a question whether the Congress culture has come forth with the exposure of the money-demand for Sonia's rally, Deshmukh replied, "Congress is a big party. It is wrong to assume that the Congress culture has come in the open due to the acts of one or some persons."

Chavan, meanwhile, denied he promised Thakre crores of rupees or asking any of his ministers to shell out for the fund. "This is sheer nonsense. I have not promised any money, but what I did say was that I would arrange for buses to ferry party workers to the rally, and for which the funds for the expenses would come from the contributions of party workers."

Though caught candidly on the TV cameras making those statements about Chavan and the funds, Thakre denied making those statements.

The controversy is however, likely to claim its first victim. Sonia upset by these statements is reportedly seeking a replacement for Thakre as the party chief of the state, and has asked her advisers to select another candidate for the post. The election for the post is due to be held shortly.