‘I’m not tired, I’m not retired’: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar’s ‘retirement’ remark

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, while speaking to media days after a revolt by nephew Ajit Pawar. Taking a jibe at estranged nephew Ajit Pawar’s suggestion that he should retire from active politics, Pawar replied that his party workers want him to keep going, so he will continue to do so.

‘What age got to do with it’: Sharad Pawar

“Do you know at what age Morarji Desai became the prime minister? I don’t want to become the PM or a minister but only want to serve the people,” Pawar said when asked about getting retired following Ajit Pawar’s comment.

Sharad Pawar while remembering the taunt by his nephew as his age and health condition have become the talk of the town, asserted that he was not old yet, Pawar echoed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words, saying, “Na tired hu, na retired hu.” (I am neither tired nor retired).

Here’s what Ajit Pawar taunted

“You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)…But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60…even in politics – BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi…That allows the new generation to rise,” Ajit Pawar said.

What was the matter all about?

On July 2, Ajit Pawar took the oath in the position of deputy chief minister, leaving the NCP and staking claim to the party’s emblem. Ajit Pawar proclaimed himself to be the NCP’s president while the uncle-nephew power struggle went on. The political conflict became personal when Ajit Pawar requested Sharad Pawar step down because of his advanced age. Many politicians, notably Supriya Sule and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who believe there is no retirement age in politics, criticised this.