PANAJI, DEC 28: The country is heading for another coalition after the polls, Prime Minister I K Gujral predicted here today. ``I am hopeful that the post-poll coalition will be formed by parties that believe in secularism and unity of India,'' he said.Speaking to the Press at the venue of the function, the Prime Minister said ``It is sad to notice that when elections are round the corner, the effort is on to accelerate the process of defections from other parties.'' Gujral's statement was seen as a veiled reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Gujral however declined to answer the question if he regarded the BJP as an ``untouchable'' and hurriedly rose to go away saying he had nothing more to add to the remarks already made by him.
On the question of alliance with Laloo Prasad Yadav's party, he said it was for the United Front to decide with whom it should align.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
