Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah,who took oath as Cabinet Minister in New Delhi on Thursday,said that the new UPA government signifies hope and stability. Speaking to reporters after being sworn in as cabinet minister,Abdullah said,"The new UPA government signifies hope which we all have from it that this government will deliver. Stability and progress have to be achieved as well as good neighbourly relations with all our neighbours." Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK,who also took oath as a Cabinet minister said that "there is nothing wrong in regional parties hoping for a larger representation in the Union Cabinet". "Every regional party has a dream to have more representation in the Union Cabinet," he said adding that he would try to do his best in his new capacity. Meanwhile former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh,who has also been inducted as a Union Minister,suggested that the "UP model" should be replicated in other states also. Apparently referring to the forthcoming Maharashtra assembly elections,he said the UP formula of Congress going it alone in the state during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections,"had got a good response". Deshmukh,however,hastened to add that "it is my personal opinion and it is up to the party high command to take a final decision on this".
