The disclosure was made by no less than Minister for Home Gopinath Munde in the State Legislative Council today. he said Naik, one of the first ministers to be sacked in a reshuffle earlier this year, had received threats that a supari of Rs 20 lakh had been handed out to eliminate him.The police were making enquiries and adequate security would be provided to Naik as well, Munde said.

While two persons who had earlier threatened Suresh Navale had been already arrested, the latest episode brings into sharp focus not just the fragility of the Sena-BJP government in Maharashtrabut also the interplay between the two allies who appear to be scoring points off each other.

The admission by a Home Minister that treasury members are being threatened by anti-social elements is being looked upon as ample evidence of the deteriorating law & order situation in the State which is now being equated to the conditions in Bihar.

Dismayed members of the treasury look upon the latest turn of events as more evidence of the brinkmanship that is being indulged in by both the allies which could end up by handing advantage to the Congress-led opposition in Maharashtra.

Munde's statement was, however, made during the course of a routine motion under rule 93 seeking the government's reply on the threat to Navale and Gulabrao Gavande, another former minister. Munde said the security threat to both had abated with the upgrading of their security.

Naik was the first among the Sena ministers to light the fires of rebellion within the party which is said to have led to considerable erosion of theauthority of Sena chief Thackeray.

Munde assured the House that a detailed inquiry would be made into the latest threats to him. However, when doubts were raised about the possible exaggeration of security threats in order to gain commandos, Munde said if the security provided was being misused by some persons for intimidating others it would be withdrawn immediately.