Mumbai, Oct 18 (IANS) Senior leaders of the Congress' Maharashtra unit and rivals are gunning for former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan after his recent interview to a Kolkata-based daily in which he criticized several party colleagues on certain issues.

Senior leader Narayan Rane is upset with Chavan's comments in the interview in which, among other things, he blamed his predecessors - the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde - for the Adarsh Society row.

In the interview, Chavan had said that if he had taken action against the Congress leaders for their alleged role in the Adarsh Society scam, the party would have been decimated in Maharashtra.

"It matters little whether the remarks were on record or off record. He should not have said such things," observed Rane, a former chief minister and now a contender for the top post if the Congress returns to power.

On that Chavan had admitted to the "mistake" on his part, Rane shot back: "Yes... He said it (was a mistake), but after the elections, not before", implying that the damage had been done.

A senior state leader was livid over Chavan's statements, and termed them as "ill-timed and potentially damaging" for the party which is struggling for a fourth consecutive term in the state.

"After the drubbing in the Lok Sabha last May, the Maharashtra election is very crucial for boosting the party's morale and its revival. The exit polls predictions are already discouraging. Though many things have contributed to the present state of affairs, the party infighting and factionalism is a prime cause," the leader, who requested anonymity, told IANS.

There are many in the party who feel that Rane's potential was "not fully utilized" since, with his "aggressive dynamism", he could have given all other parties strong competition.

Even former ally National Congress Party's feathers are ruffled due to Chavan's comments on the former deputy chief minster Ajit Pawar that if he (Chavan) had taken any action against him on the corruption allegations, the Democratic Front government would have collapsed midway.

However, the state and central party leadership is yet to officially discuss the issue though state unit chief Manikrao Thakre Friday termed Chavan's remarks as "unfortunate".

Interestingly, in 2012, just prior to the civic elections, Chavan had made certain comments on the Shiv Sena leadership, which are believed to have given a new lease of life to the party and helped it sweep the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai elections.