His `exile' came to a very public end today, the road to his Bandra (E) residence Matoshree witnessing a saffron surge as followers, including the state Cabinet, a galaxy of film stars and other celebrities, arrived for a darshan of the patriarch on Guru Poornima.

Unlike the day he announced his `retirement' in March, there was no stampede today, though his loyal band of followers jammed the road to his residence in full strength.

The entire Maharashtra Cabinet was there, led by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi as well as Mayor Nandu Satam. While the Sainiks waited for the patriarch to speak from his balcony, an air of nervousness was also palpable amid speculation that differences between Joshi and Thackeray remain unresolved and that there could soon be a change of guard inMaharashtra.

However, four months of introspection seem to have convinced Thackeray that the reason for his hiatus - dissatisfaction with Joshi - no longer exists.

Though rumour was rife that he had secured Joshi's resignation last night, Thackeray, in typical style, let off some bombast against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Sena's ally in the government, for seeking a change at the helm of the state.

Thackeray has not taken kindly to being dictated to by the BJP. "I do not like these Jayalalitha-type of demands. If they have any problems, they can sit and discuss with us. Will they listen to me if I call for the dropping of Atal Behari Vajpayee as prime minister? Joshi is doing good work," Thackeray said. But the whip was clearly still in his hand as he declared in characteristic style: ``And if he continues to work as hard as he is doing now, he can hope to last out his full five-year term.''

The Sena chief, however, admitted that the government needs to tighten its belt to be more effectiveand result-oriented and said this is precisely why he has drawn up a list of shakha and vibhag pramukhs among whom were fresh faces expected to deliver the goods. Another list of senior party functionaries will be announced soon, he added.

The Sena chief, though, appeared particularly incensed by the Congress's growing movement against the state government vis-a-vis the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.

He dismissed as political gimmickry the party's demand to the prime minister that a central team be despatched to Maharashtra forthwith to study the precarious condition of life and property in the state.