Shimla: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on July 9 said her party would be prepared to enter into "appropriate coalition or alignment" with secular parties in the next general elections.

Gandhi, in her brief remarks, asked all secular forces to "intensify" efforts to evolve a strategy for fighting fundamentalists and ensure defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the elections.

On the Ayodhya issue, she said the party was "clear and consistent" that the dispute must be resolved through courts and all parties must abide by the verdict.

She, however, said that her party was not against a negotiated settlement. "We firmly believe that such a settlement once reached must have a complete legal sanction and sanctity".

PTI