Mamata practices politics of opportunity: Jyoti Basu

KOLKATA: Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI-M) leader Jyoti Basu on Friday scoffed at Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's decision to step out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) saying, "she practised politics of opportunity".

"Mamata has always practised politics of opportunity. Even the Congress follows the same practice. That is why it has now warmed up to her and wants to join hands with her party," Basu told here.

"The Trinamool Congress chief has never followed principles in life. Sometime back she had aligned with Congress, which she quit to join NDA. No one can be sure what she is up to," he added.

Basu said it was surprising that people still vote for her. "We have to go to the people who vote for Trinamool Congress and win them over," he said.

Mamata Banerjee had announced her decision to sever ties with the NDA Thursday at a gathering of the Madrassa students union. She did not cite any reason except that her party wanted to build an independent identity and stand on its own.

She said she had joined NDA out of deep respect for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.