But there is no place for complacency. He's marshalling all these factors deftly for what may be the most important poll in his life.

Munde, who addressed 2 meetings on Saturday - in Hingoli and Nanded, and in Jalna and Aurangabad today, has by all means, stolen amarch over competitors in hitting the road, taking the dirt and grime of a poll campaign, backed by a newly rejuvenated party, now raring to go. Their ralying point: Munde.

They talk of how the Sena was bullied by the BJP into agreeing to simultaneous Assembly/LS polls in the state. This master-stroke, which they believe has left the Opposition reeling in confusion, is entirely Munde's idea.

The conception of the NCP in May this year, when Pawar sent his missive to Sonia, was like a windfall for Munde. ``That day I made up my mind, I had to get the assembly polls together with the Lok Sabha,'' he said. The NCP, naturally, is also the whipping boy. Munde calls it the `Dharmashala' - the party of defectors and the homeless.

And as the various projections of the poll outcome float about (Munde's is 140-150 seats for the alliance, 50-60 for the NCP, and 70 for the Congress in the assembly), the man who is the BJP's most seasoned campaigner in the state, is also growing into a matured politician - he haschanged his oratory into a dialogue with the crowds, he almost shows off his rapport with them.

In private conversations, he is studiedly restrained both about Pawar and Manohar Joshi (the latter, his bete noire, who's been kicked upstairs to contest an LS election). So even as Munde is being projected as the man to take on Pawar, he acts magnanimous about his earlier bitterness with Pawar. ``I have to put all that behind me,'' he says.

In his speeches, he says openly, `I dare to dream. That is the mark of a mard, not a namard. Impotent men don't usually get dreams'' he tells a cheering crowd, who's forgiven his very famous moral `misdemeanours.'The constituency that he is addressing, is still the other India - they hero-worship, they like the rustic, practical leaders, who deliver, they like a good `Raja' who will do justice. That is how he dares to dream. He claims to know the pulse of his people. He represents the Vanjara community. Party activists tell you - if Pawar plays the Marath card, it's goodfor us - the OBCs are 52%, the Marathas 30% in the state.

And the voters are responsive. At his meetings, Munde engages them in question and answer. A sample.

Munde: (He's on the point of who brought down the Vajpayee Government)So, who are the three `Khalnayikas' (female villains) of this drama?Crowds: Jayalalitha!!

Munde: So, you give her first position? Who's the second.

Crowds: Mayawati.

Munde: And the third?

Crowds: Sonia!1

Another sample -

Munde: ``So who will the youth go with?

(Someone in the crowd): Desh Ko Chahiye Vajpayee Sarkar!!

Munde: Arre, Zara Kuni Rajyasathisudha bola? (Arre, someone speak up for this state also?)

So, if the BJP is also changing in the process, nobody is complaining. And the party's working overtime. In a unique feat, Munde is also attending a string of meetings every evening with parivar activists, including the RSS, in every constituency. Says Vinod Tawde, state general secretary of the part. `His (Munde's) Sangharsha Yatra in 1994, installed him asthe man in the state to demolish Pawar. Now, after 5 years, he's again at the centre stage in Maharashtra. Everyone else will pale in comparison.''