Speaking at a meet-the-press, Mahajan made an elaborate analysis of theelection results in the State and categorically said that while the ShivSena-BJP government was efficient in its work, some organisational hiccupsprevented the parties from projecting the good image of the government. ``Wewere very near to power but we missed the bus not after the elections butprobably when the elections were in progress,'' he quipped.

Asked to comment on the indirect charges made by Sena chief Bal Thackerayand also former chief minister Narayan Rane that overambitious approach ofsome BJP leaders prevented the Shiv Sena-BJP government in retaining power,Mahajan said that the charges don't hold water and that the BJP cannot beheld responsible for the present situation. ``In the post-election scenario,the alliance was short of 20 seats and we could see no possibility of anyonelending support to us. With the alliance getting only 125 seats, there wasno possibility of the Governor inviting the alliance to form the government.We have no complaints against the Governor,'' he said.

Mahajan also maintained that there was no possibility of the Congress-ledDemocratic Front government coming down in the near future despite seriousdifferences between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. Hesaid the alliance would carry out its duty as an effective oppositionparty.

Mahajan said the Deshmukh Government's position was like ``the hotice-cream,'' fraught with contradictions. He said it was impossible tospeculate about the role of the BJP if and when the government falls. ``Therole will depend on what circumstances the government falls, but then wewill also have to keep in mind that there are very less supporters for us inother parties or independents,'' he added. All is not over and aftereffectively working in the opposition, we will form the government underleadership of the Shiv Sena, he said.

Briefing about the three-day meeting of the party's state executive whichconcluded today, party spokesman Prakash Jawadekar said that the party hasresolved to launch a severe agitation on farmers' issues. The resolutionthat was approved warned the State Government not to raise the issue of theSrikrishna Commission report. The resolution severely criticised thegovernment for its alleged inefficiency.