MOSCOW, May 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's government will have a larger number of deputy prime ministers if Vladimir Putin is appointed premier, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov said on Wednesday after Putin held consultations with MPs.

Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, who was inaugurated earlier in the day, nominated Putin for PM on Wednesday. The State Duma will consider the nomination at a meeting on Thursday.

"He [Putin] said the number of deputy prime ministers will be expanded," Zyuganov said.

State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov, who was also involved in the consultations with the former president, said Putin would focus on social issues if he becomes prime minister.

"A solid economy is needed to solve social issues. These are two interrelated paths," Gryzlov said.

After the consultations members of the ruling United Russia party, the ultranationalist LDPR party and the Kremlin loyalist, A Just Russia, confirmed their plans to vote for Putin as premier on Thursday. Zyuganov said his party would vote against.

"We are a serious opposition," the Communist leader said.

Medvedev asked Putin to take up the premier's post last December on the condition that he was successful in the March 2 presidential polls. Putin agreed to accept the proposal after the votes had been counted. Putin will also become head of the ruling United Russia party.