Cong to decide on Maha CM: Pawar

With Congress-NCP coalition appearing to retain power in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said Congress will decide on the issue of new chief minister.

"Congress will decide," Pawar said when asked whether Ashok Chavan will be the Chief Minister.

Asked about the single biggest factor which led to the impressive showing of the alliance, Pawar said that leadership of Shiv Sena-BJP have not succeded in inspiring the voters.

Pawar said the farmer community "seems to be supporting" them because of the Manmohan Singh government's policy at the national level and its implementation by Congress-NCP government in the state.

"There should not be any problem to form the government," he added.

Asked if the NCP could have contested more seats, he said the performance of the party was not well in the Lok Sabha elections indicating the reasons why the NCP contested on lesser number of seats than last time.

NCP fielded its candidates at 114 seats this time against 124 in 2004, while Congress contested 174 seats, ten more than last time.

To a query whether the party would ask for the deputy chief minister's post, he said: "That is an understanding. There is nothing new in it."

Pawar said the party was encouraging new leadership and younger leaders and dismissed reports that rebel candidates are winning in the state in large numbers. "Official candidates are performing well," he added.