Rane, in an interview on the eve of his last few hours as CM at his official residence Varsha, said that the reality was that the new alliance is the outcome of a strange adjustment carried out at the last minute, without taking the differences of opinions, thinking process and adverse stands between the two into consideration.

They just cannot rule together for long, he said, and added that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance would definitely take advantage of the situation and form the saffron alliance Government again. He, however, ruled out elections in the near future. He said that people would soon judge that the new alliance had come together only for selfish purposes and did not even consider those who gave themmandate, he said, adding that the alliance could not take the people for granted and rule the State.

``It is most unfortunate that in spite of peoples' mandate, we could not come to power. However, we take full responsibility of our mistake and (will) rectify it,'' he said and expressed confidence that the Sena-BJP alliance would be able to form the government again.

When asked whether his party's stand of not aligning with NCP or the BJP's demand for the Chief Minister's post was responsible for the SS-BJP alliance not getting the majority to form the next Government, he clarified ``The people have realised who is behind it. However, personally, I do not blame anyone for the same.''

When asked about the future of the SS-BJP alliance as a rift had arisen between the two over the Chief Minister's post, Rane said that the alliance was intact. But he agreed that there were ambitious people in the alliance and the people knew who they were.

On being asked of the Shiv Sena's future plans, Rane said thatthere was a great need to reorganise the party and for that purpose, a Sena convention would be held in December to restructure the organisation to strengthen it at all levels under the guidance of the Sena chief Bal Thackeray. While reshaping the party, stern action would be taken against those who revolted during the elections, he said.

When asked about allegations of the bad financial condition of the State, he said that the alliance tried its level best to give a people-oriented Government by doing several developmental works which had not been done by the previous Congress regimes.

Victory in our defeat: Thackeray

``There is victory in our defeat,'' Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said when news of the Maharashtra governor inviting the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party to form the next Government in the State was announced.

The Sena chief's cryptic statement was released late Saturday night.

Sena supporters are now looking forward to the stance Thackeray will adopt while addressingthe traditional Dassera rally at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai on Monday. The Sena chief is likely to announce the future course of action of his party in the backdrop of its ``strained'' relationship with BJP, the Sena's ally, and the ``opportunistic'' alliance between Congress and NCP to come to power in the State, Sena sources said.

Thackeray has also expressed his displeasure with the allotment of portfolios to the three Sena members in the BJP-led Central Ministry.