The decision was discussed in the corridors, canteens and cabins but in hushed tones. Small groups sat huddled in every corner discussing the fallout. Each one with his own analysis of the things to come.

And in all this the MiC members put up a brave face. ``We have shouldered the responsibility which was thrust upon us a year ago by the state government. It is the government's prerogative to continue or scrap the system and we do not have any complaints against it,'' said a member requesting anonymity.

Deputy Mayor Gopal Shetty today gave up his official mobile phone and car saying he did not want any luxuries. Trying to hide his emotions, he said: ``I willcontinue working for the citizens till the state government directs us to resign. This decision has not come as a blow and I am sure that the government had taken the decision after considering all the pros and cons,'' he added.

Mayor Nandu Satam himself, after being incommunicado last evening, looked calm and composed today. He told reporters that he had no yet received any formal communication from Mantralaya. ``The day the bill is introduced (to amend the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act to provide for scrapping of MiC), we will stop work...it is upto my party leaders to decide if I should resign before that. The moment Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray or Uddhav tell me, I will submit my papers,'' he said.

But he did have regrets that he was not given enough time by his leaders. ``We have taken some very good decisions, but just when the results would have been visible the system is being disbanded. In the past ten months works dragging on for the last several years have been expedited. I hadexplained our position and given a complete account of my work to Balasaheb,'' he said.

Asked whether the twelve MLAs should have consulted him before submitting the letter to the chief minister, he shrugged dismissively. ``Why should they consult me? I am nobody for them. After all they are senior party leaders...they have access to the chief minister.''

When asked if he would investigate their role in writing the letter, he replied that it was not in his nature to add fuel to the fire. ``In the Shiv Sena nobody asks questions. In keeping with the discipline of the party, I have never done anything to instigate conflicts,'' said Satam. Asked if he would meet Thackeray and plead for a reconsideration, Satam said, ``It is not appropriate. He will not like it. If he wants to meet me, he will call me. Like I said, in Shiv Sena you don't ask questions.''

And if there was anybody who looked completely at peace with himself today, it was the Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale, who had bitterly opposed MiCwhen it was introduced. Speaking to Express Newsline for full fifteen minutes on his mobile on his way home, he admitted that his staff would now be relieved of the psychological pressure which they faced due to the MiC's dictatorial style of functioning.

Gokhale when asked how he felt, now that his misgivings about MiC have been proved right, said: ``I was neither responsible for bringing in the system, nor for scrapping it. If I was happy, my BP would have gone up.'' He, however, added that MiC was like ``old wine in new bottle.''

He denied spiritedly the allegations that it was the uncooperative behaviour of his staff that had brought the MiC's downfall. ``I am ready to answer all the charges if there are specific instances.'' He said that he sympathised with the council members who held the administration guilty and remarked, ``Actually, I don't blame them. It is human psychology to shift the blame for one's misdeeds. Nobody stopped the members from introducing their proposal but it takes a lotof hard work and time to collect data and make a proposal.''