Rane and Munde arrived together for the Sena-BJP joint legislature party meeting late tonight at Sahyadri guest house. From the word go, Munde was in charge something he always wanted to do.

The meeting was a mere formality. About 50 legislators including 16 Independents represented by Anil Deshmukh ``elected'' Rane as their leader. His name was proposed by Manohar Joshi, outgoing chief minister, and seconded by Munde and Deshmukh. Rane said, ``We will prove our majority on the floor of the House... we have the numbers.'' Governor Dr P C Alexander has given him 21 days to prove his majority.

Significantly, Munde moved the resolution to ``congratulate Joshi for his leadership that gave new directionto the state''. It was adopted unanimously. Later Joshi said he was laying down office with ``satisfaction''. He showed no signs of anguish but he knew that his time in the arclights had come to an end.

Most BJP leaders, particularly those in Joshi's Cabinet, believe that the going will get easier now. In the last few months, it was getting more and more difficult to work with him; Joshi would willingly or otherwise block decisions, keep files pending or not respond, said a BJP leader.

A recent example: Joshi refused to sign on the file that recommended felicitation of some 3,000-odd people who fought the Emergency. Munde had announced this decision in December. It required the intervention of a senior BJP leader who spoke personally to Joshi and convinced him to sign. ``This was not such a major thing but important decisions can't be taken this way,'' he said.

Joshi's supporters also say that he and Munde clashed on innumerable occasions in the last few months; their personal equation had soured agreat deal. Apparently, Joshi found Munde ``particularly ambitious and arrogant after the BJP assumed power in New Delhi''. Since then, Munde's behaviour was less that of a deputy, more of an ambitious man in a hurry, said sources close to Joshi. Their troubled equation reflected in the working of the government too.

The BJP believes that Rane is a more agreeable man. Also, he and Munde have reached a comfortable equation in the last year or so which will make the going smooth for the alliance in the next few months, say BJP leaders. The change of guard also gives the alliance an opportunity to refurbish its severley sullied public image. The BJP was pressing hard for Babanrao Gholap, scam-tainted Social Welfare Minister, to be dropped from the new Cabinet.

As a consummate Munde answered questions directed at the chief minister- designate in the joint news conference, it was clear who would call the shots -- at least for a while.