Interspersed with sarcastic, and some downright wacky slogans, the dharna was led by Leaders of the Opposition in State Legislature, Chhagan Bhujbal and Madhukar Pichad.

And that they had come prepared was quite obvious. ``Yuti Shaasanacha law and order, roj khandani, roj murder,'' (the law and order in alliance government means extortion and murder everyday) said a slogan referring to fast deteriorating law and order situation in the metropolis.

Though the underworld has clocked on an average of one kill every day in the last fortnight, the government continues to claim that the law and order is under control.

Bhujbal, who addressed an impromptu press conference in the Mantralaya lobby where the legislators squatted in front of a portrait of Shivaji, ridiculed the government's plan tooffer onions through the public distribution system - 1 kg of onions, per card holder, per month.

``Now people are supposed to make do with just eight or nine onions per month. That works out to less than half a onion every day,'' he said as other roared in unison: ``Yutiche sarkar kay mhanate, kanda-batata naahi mhanate,'' (the alliance government says there are no onions and potatoes).

The legislators were also demanding that a wet drought be declared in the state in view of the destruction caused by the extended spell of rains and that the farmers who have lost their crops in rains be paid compensation at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre.

They also wanted the government to fix the cotton procurement price at Rs 2,500 - up Rs 400 from the current Rs 2,100. The slogan that came inevitably appended to these demands: ``Thackeray, Joshi, Munde khaataat tupashi, shetkari raja marto upashi,'' (Thackeray, Joshi and Munde are eating butter while the farmers are starving).

Chief Minister ManoharJoshi, who was out during day, arrived at his office at 4.45 pm and met the agitating legislators. Pichad and Bhujbal handed him a memorandum of demands, but turned down an offer to talk to him in his cabin by saying that there was nothing to discuss.

Speaking to scribes later, Joshi described the dharna as ``a show to gain popularity.'' He said: ``They did not even show the courtesy of informing me about the dharna. Had they asked for my appointment, I would have spared some time for them,'' Joshi said.

He added that complete statistics were awaited from the districts, after which the cabinet will be able to take a decision whether to declare a wet draught in the state or not. He, however, refused any possibility of increasing cotton procurement rates.

But the agitating legislators had the last word: ``Roji roti de na sake, woh sarkar nikammi hein, jo sarkar nikammi hein, woh sarkar badalni hein'' (the government which cannot provide food and employment is useless and deserves tobe pulled down).