NCP in favour of young faces in new Maharashtra Government

New Delhi/Mumbai, Oct 22 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party chief and Union Minister of Agriculture, Sharad Pawar, has said that his party would support young faces in the formation of the new government in Maharashtra.

He said this while speaking to reporters in the national capital New Delhi.

Pawar attributed the Congress-NCP alliance's good showing in the Maharashtra elections to the UPA Government's policies.

On being asked about his party's claims that young faces will be supported, he said that party stands by the same.

"As far as my party is concerned young people will be supported. You will see, and the people will see that in the government formation, young faces will be promoted," said Pawar.

To a poser about electing a new Deputy Chief Minister in the state, he said that the party members in the legislature would decide it, as in the past.

"(In) our past practices also we have selected Deputy Chief Minister twice, every time we call the legislative party meeting, we ask the members. In fact they suggested that they will like to express their view by secret ballot. We give them the opportunity and the majority's view has been respected," added Pawar.

The assembly elections, seen as a key test of the ruling Congress party's popularity since its landslide national win in May, were conducted in the three states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh on October 13.

Analysts say a good performance in the state polls could convince Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the federal government can tackle key reforms and a new tax code without much political opposition. (ANI)