19 May 2004	Wednesday	28 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

NEW DELHI: Indian astrologers have predicted the fall of the incoming Congress-led coalition within two years and said the communists would create "havoc" in the government after a lunar eclipse in October.

"It is a smooth sail till September of this year," said astrologer Rakesh Raj Gupta. "From then on there will be problems. A lot of changes in the structure may happen, such as one party withdrawing and others pulling out."

"This government will not last its full term," Raj Gupta, who is in the capital to address a symposium on "Future of India - Astrological Analysis", said. "It will head from one crisis to another due to the communists."

The main support for Congress comes from four national communist parties which between them boast 61 lawmakers-elect. On Monday they opted not to join the government due to fear of voter backlash in polls next year in states where Congress is their main opposition.

"I have come to my conclusions based on reading the horoscopes of Sonia Gandhi and (outgoing) Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee," astrologer Gupta said. "After two years the power will shift to the allies and out the hands of Sonia Gandhi's Congress.

"In India during October there is going to be an eclipse (lunar). The communists will create havoc from then on and the opposition party, the BJP, will also become aggressive," he said.

Astrology holds a magical power for Hindus, with every major decision - from whom to wed to when to sign a contract - determined by a reading of the stars. Indian politicians have personal astrologers and watch their stars very closely, as do millions of Hindus who rely on astrology to determine auspicious days for both family and official functions.

Star-gazing won a serious boost under the outgoing Vajpayee's government. Two years ago Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi asked schools to begin astrology classes. -AFP