Stressing the point, he said the BJP was committed to the 1995 accord with the Shiv Sena in which the two parties had agreed upon the leadership arrangement. The chief ministership would continue to be with the Shiv Sena while deputy chief ministership would be with the BJP till the term of the present assembly lasted, Mahajan said.

However, Mahajan went on to add that any change in the at the level of the chief minister was the Shiv Sena's prerogative just as the deputy chief ministership was the prerogative of the BJP.

Mahajan said he met the Sena Chief in the afternoon and clarified that his party had not passed any resolution seeking ouster of Joshinor had discussed the issue at its meeting in Karnala as reported in a section of the press.

He further said that in view of Thackeray's reactions to media rein a section of the press.

On asked whether there was any tension in the relationship of the two parties, Mahajan quipped ``BJP-Shiv Sena relations were more friendly and cordial than the one between BJP-AIADMK.''

He further said that in view of Thackeray's reactions to media report, it was necessary for him to clarify the matter. During the meeting it was agreed upon that the two parties would not air their grievances against each other in public, Mahajan said.

Asked if his discussions with the Sena chief today revolved around the Chief Minister, Mahajan said ``it was not person specific and we discussed the strategy for the next Assembly elections, besides taking stock of the political situation in the state and at the national level.''

``Our alliance is with the Shiv Sena and not with this or that Chief Minister,'' Mahajan said parryingqueries on whether the Karnala BJP conclave discussed the functioning of Manohar Joshi.

Asked if Thackeray had broached the subject of a change in Chief Minister, Mahajan declined to speak further on the matter. ``I can only say at this stage what I have said,'' he retorted.

The Rajya Sabha MP said he had met Thackeray here on July eight on the invitation of the latter. ``Thackeray telephoned me at Karnala that day and invited me to meet him,'' he recalled. At both the meetings on July eight and today, Uddhav Thackeray was present and the discussions were general in nature about state and national politics, he reiterated.

Mahajan said in view of the reports carried nation-wide about Thackeray criticising the BJP for allegedly seeking a change of Chief Minister in Maharashtra, he had felt it necessary to make his party's position clear. It has been now agreed that in future neither the BJP nor the Sena would air views in public or through the media about matters pertaining to the alliance, hesaid.

Asked if he was happy with the Chief Minister's functioning, Mahajan reiterated ``there is no question of blaming any particular person.''

Joshi denies quitting

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today scotched rumours that he had submitted his resignation to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday and asserted that he enjoyed full confidence of all sections of his party and his ruling alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state cabinet.

Joshi told reporters in an informal chat that the rumours of his resignation were the handiwork of some idle brains and reiterated that he would complete his full term as chief minister in the office for which he enjoyed the blessings of Thackeray.