Marathis should explain why they ditched Sena: Thackeray

Upset over the poor show of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in traditional strongholds of Mumbai and Thane, Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said the 'Marathi manoos' should explain reasons for not voting for the party.

"The saffron march continued in rest of the state but Mumbai and Thane have given me pain at this age," the 82-year-old Thackeray said, in an editorial comment in Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

Without naming nephew and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray, the Sena chief said, "the Congress took help of Suryaji Pisal to divide Marathi votes."

Suryaji Pisal was a renegade Maratha who in 1689 opened the defences of the Raigad fort to the besieging Mughal invaders.

The Marathi voter, who strayed away from the Sena, should explain to us why he did so and what harm had Shiv Sena done to him, Thackeray said.

The Congress indulged in the British policy of divide and rule and Marathi people fell prey to it, Thackeray rued.

Thackeray's comments follow reports that presence of MNS candidates in the Lok Sabha elections was the main reason for the defeat of Sena-BJP candidates in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane.