The resignations sent in by NCP chief Sharad Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel to the PM on Friday, expressing their displeasure over the working of the UPA and the Congress's high-handed behaviour may be more serious than believed earlier.

News coming in now says the Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel are likely to skip the farewell dinner hosted by the PM today at Hyderabad House in Delhi for Pratibha Patil.

Pawar has also told Agatha Sangma, who is an Union Cabinet minister, to stop attending office. Agatha had met Pawar ahead of the NCP meet. After she campaigned for her father Purno Sangma, the opposition candidate in Presidential election, her position in the ministry had become untenable.

The NCP is however likely to attend a 5.30 pm function at Parliament House in honour of Pratibha Patil.