Thackeray blames Gen Next for Sena's performance

Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray today attributed the party's poor show in assembly polls in Maharashtra to the young generation's ignorance about the "travails" it went through for the state.

"The young generation is stranger to the history of Maharashtra and the Sena's fight for Marathi cause. They have ruined Marathi unity in just a day," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana today.

"The 105 martyrs of Samyukta Maharashtra movement would feel the grief of Sena's defeat because they know what hardships Sena has gone through for Marathi people. Youth are not aware of it," Thackeray said.

Blaming the youth for voting out Sena, Thackeray added: "They do not know the power of saffron flag. History has repeated itself as Marathas lost the Battle of Panipat due to traitors."

Claiming that the Sena gave 'pride' to Marathi people, the Sena chief said the party is following Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji's legacy and will not give up easily.