'Na tired hu, na retired': Sharad Pawar quotes Vajpayee to counter 'ageist' Ajit

As 82-year-old Sharad Pawar on Saturday launched a mission to redevelop his 24-year-old Nationalist Congress Party following his nephew Ajit Pawar's secret mutiny with the help of the BJP, the senior Pawar quoted Vajpayee as he said he is neither tired nor retired. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed on the party's leadership to Advani, he said, "Na tired, na retired. Lekin ab Advaniji ke netritva mein vijay ki aur prasthan kijiye." Read | Who is Parth Pawar? What is Ajit Pawar's next move in Maharashtra political crisis?

Sharad Pawar remembered those lines by Vajpayee as his age and health condition have been much in discussion after Ajit Pawar pointed out that his uncle should now retire. "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. Read | Eknath Shinde asked to resign? Aaditya Thackeray's big claim amid NCP split

Sharad Pawar braved the criticism and reiterated that he remains effective; his age be 82 or 92. On Saturday, as he launched the mission to rebuild his party, he again said, "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."

On July 2, Ajit Pawar took the oath as the deputy chief minister breaking away from the NCP and staked claim to the symbol of the party. As the uncle-nephew power struggle continued, Ajit Pawar declared himself as the president of the NCP. The political battle turned personal with Ajit Pawar asking Sharad Pawar to retire because of his old age. This drew criticism from several politicians including Supriya Sule, Lalu Prasad Yadav who said that there is no retirement age in politics.

'82 or 92': Here are the top quotes of Sharad Pawar after the NCP split

1. "Today's situation is not new to me. After the election in 1980, all MLAs except 6 out of 58 of the party I was leading left the party."

2. "I know how to start from scratch and will rebuild the party once again."

3. "I don't believe there has been any split in my family."

4. "Be it 82 or 92. I am still effective."

5. "Na tired hu na retired."

Sharad Pawar is a cancer survivor and on a past occasion he spoke about tobacco addiction and oral cancer. He had to undergo a surgery in which all his teeth were removed. As questions about his age and health are being raised following 63-year-old Ajit Pawar's attack, Sharad Pawar said he is fit and still the president of the party.