In a spirited retort to calls for his retirement, veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar, 83, asserted his resilience during a bullock cart race program in Pune’s rural part. Dismissing age-related criticisms, Pawar declared, “I have not grown old. I still have so much strength in me. I can straighten some people out.” The statement was seen as a direct response to his nephew Ajit Pawar’s remarks urging him to step back from politics due to his age.
Ajit Pawar had previously quipped about retirement ages in other sectors, suggesting that leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi set an example by stepping down. Sharad Pawar, undeterred, emphasized his continued vigor and expressed confidence in the potential inclusion of bullock cart racing in the Olympics with proper planning.
