Ahmedabad: Amit Shah on Tuesday wondered whether Rahul Gandhi, aged 47, could be called a " ladka" and himself opted out of the league of lads.

At an ABP News conclave here, the BJP president was asked why "boys" were after the party. The question was asked against the backdrop of the Uttar Pradesh elections during which Akhilesh Yadav had joined hands with Rahul and the Gujarat polls that have brought Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakore closer to the Congress leader.

Shah replied: "I don't know if you consider Rahul a ladka or not. In UP, I did not want to ask the age because I have maintained the standards of public life.... But I can ask you (anchor Dibang) till what age do you consider someone a ladka."

Reminded that Shah, 53, is also more or less in the same age group, he said he harboured no such illusion.