Age was bound to be a punchline when a soon-to-be 85-year-old leader met an 81-year-old to celebrate the birthday of a 75-year-old.
The scene was a gala to celebrate the 75th birth anniversary of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, which doubled as a display of the opposition's political camaraderie in Mumbai.
When the NCP's Praful Patel complimented former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on stage, saying, "You are still young at 85", the former's party boss Sharad Pawar interjected, "He's 58, not 85", drawing chuckles from those present.
Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah on stage at the event.
Besides Mr Abdullah of the National Conference, the event was also attended by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and emissaries from Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United and MK Stalin's DMK.
"We are all with you. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the country must be kept united. We are all different, but together we can build India. That is friendship. Our religion may be different, but it unites us," Mr Abdullah said in his message to the audience.
Sharad Pawar NCP's Worker Assaulted, Polling Booth Vandalised In Maharashtra Workers Of Sharad Pawar's NCP Stop Chhagan Bhujbal From Entering Voting Booth Sharad Pawar Rubbished Rahul Gandhi's Attack On Adani: BJP's Amit Malviya "Thousand Times Better...": Delhi Lt Governor's Surprise For AAP's Atishi 2 Children Strangled To Death In Bengaluru, Parents Blame Each Other: Cops Maharashtra, Jharkhand Counting Today, Key Bypoll Results In 4 States Bushra Bibi Faces Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant In Corruption Case PM Modi Honoured With Global Peace Award For Indian-American Minority Welfare Indian Army Celebrates 77th Anniversary Of Poonch's Historic Link-Up Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.