Security cover of nearly 100 VIPs is likely to be downgraded after a review of their threat assessment next month. Notable among those likely to have less security are former Union ministers Shivraj Patil, Natwar Singh and Suresh Pachauri and a few retired bureaucrats.

Some others, like LJP leader Ramvilas Paswan who has not been elected to the Lok Sabha and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, may also face a security downgrade. The list, comprising 423 VIPs, will, at the same time, include a few new faces who will be inducted into the Manmohan Singh government as ministers.

Home ministry sources said although the new ministers will immediately be given some kind of security after their swearing-in, their security grading would be done only after the review meeting next month.

While Lalu, Paswan and Patil enjoy Z-plus security, Singh and Pachauri are under Z category. Sources said these politicians would continue to get some kind of security but their current status would be downgraded. Patil, Singh and Pachauri may be put under Y category - entitling them to two personal security officers (PSOs), one head constable and four constables.

Retired bureaucrats like former home secretary V K Duggal, former CBI director Vijay Shanker, former BSF chief A K Mitra and former Delhi Police commissioner K K Paul may also get lesser number of personnel for their security. While Duggal is serving as a member in the Commission on Centre-State Relations, Paul is with the Union Public Service Commission as a member.

While VIPs in the Z-plus category get six PSOs, two head constables, 12 constables, one escort and one pilot vehicle, those in Z category get three PSOs, two head constables, eight constables and an escort vehicle. At present, 31 VIPs get Z-plus security cover.

Twenty of the 31 Z-plus protected VIPs get security cover from the elite National Security Guard (NSG). Notable among them are L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Jayalalitha and Ghulam Nabi Azad.