Hurt by Sena poll rout, Thackeray attacks Marathi Manoos

Pune, Oct 24 (PTI) Upset over Shiv Sena's electoral
debacle in western state Maharashtra, party chief Bal
Thackeray on Saturday said it was not "outsiders" but
Maharashtrians themselves who had stabbed him in the back.

Quoting an English newspaper headline `MNS gives Cong Raj
a hand", (Raj Thackeray-led MNS helps Congress retain power),
the Sena chief said, "This sums it all".
Striking a cynical note in his first editorial in party
mouthpiece `Saamana' after the Assembly election results on
October 22, the 84-year-old Thackeray said, "There is an evil
spirit that is separating me from you (Marathi people) and not
allowing a meeting of minds".
"I do not have any hope that even this writing will have
any influence on your thinking. In fact, I have lost faith in
everything, including Maharashtrians and also God.I am at
great pains to make this statement but I have no desire to
hide the truth and indulge in self-deception," he said.
He wondered as to why the 'Marathi Manoos', who turns to
Shiv Sena to serve his interests in all walks of life, failed
to vote for the organisation born for him.
The Sena, which ruled the state in alliance with BJP from
1995 to 1999, finished fourth, winning just 44 of the 169
seats it contested. BJP bagged 46 seats. Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena, led by Thackeray's estranged nephew Raj, severely dented
the Sena's traditional Marathi vote base. (MORE) PTI HBJ
JVN


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