New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Sunday praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said her Trinamool Congress was welcome to join the National Democratic Alliance(NDA).

"In politics, nobody is a permanent foe and nobody is a permanent friend. Once upon a time Mamata Banerjee was with the NDA. If the situation demands, we will always welcome Mamataji back to the NDA," said Modi. He said that the comment he made was in the capacity of a "local leader".

"It is not ideology that decides who will side with whom. When the time comes everything will be decided," he said, adding that Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa were also once a part of the NDA. "She deserves to be praised. The way she has come out in protest against the anti-people policies of the central government, in spite of being an ally, should surely be praised," said Modi.

Modi was in the city to attend a programme organised to mark the centenary of the creation of Bihar. Commenting on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as a potential prime ministerial candidate, Modi said: "One thing I want to make very clear. There are many things, but when the time will come, we will take cognisance of the feelings of our alliance partners."

"Before deciding the prime ministerial candidate, we will take into account the sentiments of our alliance partners. It is too early to decide or project anybody as the prime ministerial candidate," added Modi.