The prevailing animosity between Congress and NCP took a sharp turn for the worse yesterday after Deputy CM Ajit Pawar prevented Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan’s from apologising in both houses for his deputy’s insensitive remarks against a draught hit farmer’s demand for dam water.

Chavan’s intention was to pacify the Opposition parties, who have been stalling proceedings at the state legislature for the past few days, clamouring for Pawar’s resignation. Unfazed by these developments, Pawar is said to have stormed into Chavan’s chamber at Vidhan Bhavan, accompanied by a few of his cabinet colleagues. The group stiffly resisted Chavan’s plans of tendering any apology.