The Maharashtra government has reduced the security cover of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his family, ex-Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, and withdrawn the protection of state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.

State BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhye termed the action unfortunate and “vendetta” by the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition against his party’s leaders.

The BJP’s Fadnavis, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, alleged that the government was providing security “on the basis of politics”, and that this would not impact his plans to travel and meet people.

Home minister Anil Deshmukh rejected the allegations and said the security of political leaders had been reviewed as per the prevailing threat perception.

According to a government notification issued on January 8, Fadnavis will now get “Y-plus security with escort”, instead of “Z-plus” cover. The security of his wife Amruta and daughter Divija has been downgraded from “Y-plus with escort” to “X” category.