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Frantic Democrats inadvertently provided an apt metaphor for the state of affairs in Albany on Monday afternoon when they cut electricity to the State Senate’s chambers – a desperate last-ditch effort to prevent an unprecedented coup.

The Senate remained in the dark and powerless two days later as both parties sparred for control behind closed doors after two dissident Democrats turned Albany upside down.

“Over these last two days I have been meeting with other reform minded Democrats in the Senate to join our new, reform coalition government. I’ve been encouraged by the response I received,” State Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Corona) said after emerging with Republicans from a Wednesday meeting at the capitol. “The members I have been speaking to have asked for continued meetings so that we can discuss the expansion of the coalition.”

Monserrate and State Sen. Pedro Espada (D-Bronx) unexpectedly joined 30 Republican senators in Monday’s surprise leadership vote, electing State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Long Island) as majority leader and Espada as president pro-tempore under the banner of bi-partisan reform.

“For too long, residents have called for reform with nothing more than lip service as a reward. At a time when technology and communications are allowing for more transparency and citizen involvement, we have created an environment of cynicism that has moved the work of governing this state farther and farther behind closed doors,” Monserrate said in a statement on Tuesday.

Immediately after the vote, the new coalition enacted a series of rules reforms that included an equal distribution of member items (pork projects) regardless of party and equal distribution of staff and printing resources.

But Democrats balked at Republican attempts to label themselves as reformers – citing Espada’s sordid history and the nefarious negotiations with billionaire Tom Golisano, who left the state for Florida in an uproar over new taxes for high earners inserted in April’s budget.

“The Senate Republicans have tried to stall the entire session, now they’ve effectively hijacked the session. They’re looking to do what they weren’t able to do at the ballot box and that’s gain control of the majority through an illegal and unlawful resolution and attempt at a coup,” Austin Shafran, a spokesman for State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans), told reporters on Tuesday.

Shafran then lambasted Golisano for his much publicized role in staging the defection.

“He belongs in Florida. That’s the last place an election was stolen from the Democrats,” Shafran said. “Any good qualities he’s had have been overrun by political opportunism. This is a billionaire that needs to have his hand in everything. He found something he can buy, the Senate Republicans.”

Democrats also fired at Espada, who they accused of setting up dummy non-profit organizations in an attempt to siphon state funding into his company, Soundview Health Care Network. Espada requested nearly $2 million in April for organizations that shared his company’s address. Smith denied the funds, which Democrats claimed helped spark the coup. Espada also faces thousands of dollars in penalties for campaign finance violations.

And while Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in their criticism of Espada and his Republican conspirators, many have remained mum on Monserrate, who was indicted on assault charges in December and accused of slashing his girlfriend with a broken glass during a dispute at his Jackson Heights home.

Queens Democratic Party Executive Secretary Mike Reich called on Democrats to support Smith on Tuesday but declined to comment on Monserrate’s standing within the party.

On Wednesday, Democratic leaders from around the City, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, met in Corona, planning to pressure Monserrate into flipping once again.

Meanwhile, Smith has been threatening to block Monday’s vote with a court injunction.

If Monserrate returns to the fold and Monday’s vote is thrown out, the Senate will be evenly divided and Democrats could presumably stall any further leadership challenges by Republicans. Should Monserrate return to the Dems and the vote holds, the split would mean Espada and Skelos stay in power.

But despite statements of unity, Smith’s leadership role has been quietly questioned by many Democratic lawmakers, according to published reports.

It’s not the first time Smith’s leadership has been challenged. Espada, Monserrate and two other senators, Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) and Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn), challenged Smith’s ascension last year after Democrats gained the senate majority for the first time in 43 years. Monserrate quickly backed down, but the remaining “Three Amigos” continued to jeopardize Smith’s leadership until the last minute, finally caving in January in exchange for favored committee appointments and promises of reform.

The first insurgency was painted in hues of racism and bigotry as the gang’s statements circulated through the press during the stalemate.

Espada had told reporters that he was concerned about the prospect of a black president, black governor and black senate majority leader – and that Hispanics were under represented in the legislature’s leadership.

Kruger and Diaz are staunch opponents of same-sex marriage and said Smith’s openness to introducing a bill on the issue made him unacceptable.

Democrats gathered for a rally in St. Albans on Tuesday, where they resurrected the specter of race in the ongoing efforts to dethrone Smith.

“This is one of the worst of all of the political kind of shenanigans that I have ever seen in all of my 64 years of living,” the Rev. Floyd H. Flake, a former U.S. Rep. for Southeast Queens, said. “I don’t believe that if Malcolm Smith and Gov. [David] Paterson were not men of color – it’s an effort not only to remove Malcolm Smith from leadership, but it also designed to weaken Gov. David Paterson.”

Smith has refused to acknowledge Monday’s vote and is withholding the keys to the Senate floor until court challenges are filed. Republicans, joined by Espada and Monserrate, said they would resume legislative sessions on Thursday despite Smith’s defiance.