A senior NCP minister said on Monday that Pawar’s hostility toward Patil had reached its peak.

The minister said that within the NCP, Patil’s criticism of Pawar and his Finance Department has been taken seriously.

He added it would not come as a surprise if Patil is eased out of his portfolio or even dropped from the Congress-NCP-led Democratic Front government in Maharashtra.

Another minister said Patil is on very thin ice.

“Patil had survived the consequences of the recent 13/7 Mumbai attacks unlike the 26/11 attacks (in 2008) when he was compelled to resign. But now Patil seems to be headed for tough days if Ajit’s recent moves are any indication,” he said.

Pawar continued to target Patil at Cabinet meetings, joined by Congress ministers Narayan Rane and Patangrao Kadam.

Both Congress ministers criticized Patil for complaining that police personnel were tied up in things like VIP security and presenting guard of honors to ministers when they visit district places.

Pawar accused Patil of wanting to do away with age-old practices and conventions. Rane and Kadam endorsed his sentiments, stating that providing escorts to legislators and Members of Parliament or providing guards of honor to ministers were standard and Patil had no right to criticize the practices.

Patil tried to defend his statement and reasoned that this put more pressure on police resources, but he was told to recruit more officers instead.

NCP sources said that Patil was being criticized in Cabinet meetings repeatedly and Pawar had taken the lead to oppose him each time, indicating that there is an increasing hostility between the two leaders.

Hostility between the two had increased after the special Cabinet meeting on July 14, a day after the Mumbai terror blasts, when Patil had panned Pawar and his Finance Department for not considering Home Department proposals promptly.

Pawar reacted sharply and criticized Patil for his remarks, while another senior colleague and former home minister Jayant Patil, slammed the Home Minister for the handling of his department.