MUMBAI, July 27 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that Opposition parties had failed to win the confidence of the younger generation, amid mounting outrage over the paper leak controversy and student protests that led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union education minister. In an interview with Saamana, Thackeray also expressed disappointment over the functioning of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, saying, "The INDIA bloc has been blocked as of now." Referring to Abhijit Dipke, founder of the online collective Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who returned from the US and emerged as a prominent face of the student movement, Thackeray said the response he received from young people underscored the Opposition's inability to connect with the youth over the past 12 years. "The Opposition parties failed to earn the confidence of the youth in the last 12 years. I will not only blame the ruling parties for this. The Opposition is also responsible. The way leaders of the ruling party worked to split Opposition parties shows that personal benefits were given priority. As a result, people have lost faith in political parties," he said. On efforts to improve coordination among INDIA bloc partners, Thackeray said he had spoken to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Maharashtra Congress leaders before announcing Sunday's Tiranga Rally. "We are trying. Something good will come out of it," he said. Calling the Gen Z-led agitation a "new lifeline" for democracy, Thackeray said political parties must stand with the youth. Referring to the protesters, he said the Opposition could not remain silent after the movement's success. "This movement is a spark. We need to stand by them. Otherwise, the anti-democratic ruling regime will crush them, and then no one will be able to save us," he said. Thackeray said his party, founded by Balasaheb Thackeray and once known as a youth-centric organisation, would continue to champion issues concerning young people. "We have always stood by the youth. We will continue to do so," he said....