Mumbai: Shiv Sena today claimed that Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power only on the backing of Hindu votes and the groundwork for uniting the majority community was done by its late founder Bal Thackeray.

“The questions plaguing the country are becoming more serious with each passing day. Modi government has been able to come to power only due to the backing of Hindu voters. But, the idea of making Hindus come together to vote as Hindus was first mooted by Balasaheb Thackeray. The spark ignited then has made Modi come to power in Delhi today,” said an editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The party, which was founded on June 19, 1966 in Mumbai to promote the Marathi cause and regional identity, entered its golden jubilee year today. Stating that the saffron party's journey in the last 50 years has been tumultuous and full of hardships, the editorial said the party overcame all odds to make its own identity in politics of Maharashtra and of the country.

"The Sena did not have money power backing it, neither did it have people with deep pockets supporting the party. Money is instrumental in state's politics even today also but Sena was able to break the politics of money and give the Congress a hard time," the editorial said, snubbing its critics who claim that the party was propped by the Congress.

The only thing that used to bother Bal Thackeray was that the country could not stand up as one nation and it did not get a strong government, a powerful prime minister and a futuristic leader, it added.

Sena said it never cared for the short-term gains, but always concentrated on the future of the country in the long run. "This is the reason why those people who were initially opposing the Sena later became its biggest supporters and are now helping the party beat all odds," the editorial said.