Describing himself as a "mard" from Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he did not heed criticism from "every Tom, Dick and Harry". Addressing a poll rally at Shevgaon in Ahmednagar constituency, Pawar said Modi used to "hurl abuse" at the Nehru-Gandhi family earlier, and now Pawar was his target.

"I am getting free publicity. Am I some ordinary man then? I come from the soil Shivaji Maharaj was born in. Hence I do not pay heed to criticism by any such 'lungya-sungya' (Marathi equivalent of 'every Tom, Dick and Harry')," Pawar said, canvassing for party candidate Sangram Jagtap. Speaking at a rally in Gondia Wednesday, Modi had said NCP leaders "were unable to sleep" as their "sleep was jailed in Delhi's Tihar". He was apparently referring to jailed corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar.