The pressure has been mounted from within the UPA allies and the Congress, who have advised Singh and Gandhi to remove Patil immediately as a face saving measure. The issue was deliberated upon at a top-level meeting held at the residence of the Gandhi on Monday. Besides, the Congress president, Premier Singh, Ahmed Patel, Pranab Mukherjee, and Arjun Singh attended the meeting.

A top government functionary said few hours after the blasts, Lalu Yadav and Sharad Pawar, two key allies of the ruling UPA coalition called up Singh and Gandhi to inquire about the details of the incidents. The also advised them to drop Patil arguing that he has been utter failure in dealing with the terrorism in the country. “Only his (Patil) removal from the Home Ministry could save the UPA from public outcry,” Lalu reportedly told Singh.

There have been at least 14 incidents of terror bomb blasts occurred during Patil's stint in the Home Ministry. He has often come under severe attack from opposition as well as from within his party. In case he is asked to demit the office of the Home Minister, there is a possibility that he might be brought to the party as a senior office bearer and may be appointed as vice-president of the ruling Congress.

The government sources said Singh assured his allies that he would take up the matter with UPA head and report back to the Cabinet that would hold its meeting on Thursday. The Congress leadership has to take a call on Patil's fate in view of the forthcoming session of Parliament, which begins from October 17. The opposition NDA, Left parties, UNPA and BSP have threatened to put the government on the dock during the session for its complete failure to contain terror.

The opposition parties have accused the Home Minister of being more concerned about his dress code than dealing with the growing terror violence being unleashed by Maoists and Islamist militants. Apprehending a serious threat to his position in the government, Patil reportedly called on Singh and Gandhi and appraised them about the details of the investigation that the police and intelligence bureau are currently carrying out.

According to a source Singh expressed his unhappiness over the manner in which IB and police are failing in intelligence gathering. Gandhi also conveyed her anger over the functioning of the Home Ministry and asked Patil to gear up the intelligence gathering and policing machineries. (EON)