In a statement here, Thenmaravan said the decision was taken at a meeting of important office-bearers here this morning and later formally conveyed to the leadership of both the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

He said Pawar's stand that a person of foreign origin should not be india's Prime Minister would be welcomed by all those interested in the country's well-being.

The Shiv Sena's State unit was an unknown entity until Thenmaravan organised protests against Deepa Mehta's film Fire. Some of his supporters were taken into custody when they threatened to disrupt the Indo-Pakistan cricket test match here earlier this year.