Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 11: Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday January 10 downgraded the security covers to his rival and predecessor Devendra Fadnavis and his family, MNS president Raj Thackeray, former BJP city unit president Ashish Shelar, and union minister Ramdas Athavale of the RPI-A. Fadnavis' security was reduced from Z+ to Y+ with the escort losing his bulletproof vehicle, which is also perceived as escalation in the fight between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

Other BJP members whose security was withdrawn are state unit chief Chandrakant Patil, former CM Narayan Rane, and legislators Ram Kadam and Prasad Lad.

The rivalry gained momentum after the BJP supported CBI enquiry into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, police and BMC action on Kangana's property alterations and her tweets, the shifting of the metro shed from Aarey to Kanjumarg and so on.

Studies made by the threat perception committee resulted in the decision on the security cover, Deshmukh said. "There is absolutely no politics in it," he said.