Kolkata: UPA-era minister Salman Khurshid has said that the Congress wouldn't talk to Mamata Banerjee until the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of West Bengal stopped its suppressive activities.

Taking part in a community Durga Puja, Khurshid said that Congress was not ready to adjust politically by throttling itself. The party also does not expect others to throttle themselves, he said.

These statements were made by Khurshid in the wake of rumours that the Congress was ready to join hands with other political parties to face the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Though some Congress leaders are eager to support the TMC, a majority of leaders are opposed to the idea. They are against the TMC's alleged effort to suppress their party in the state.

According to IANS, Khurshid said, "Opposition parties want to contest the Lok Sabha elections together. But everybody has to be accommodative with a spirit of give and take. If we are ready for adjustments, that does not mean we will throttle ourselves."

Lending credence to Khurshid's allegation that the TMC suppresses junior partners in a coalition or alliance, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly said that only such a party must lead the fight against the BJP in a given state which is the strongest in that region. In the context of West Bengal, the chief minister's assertion implies that the TMC would contest in the majority of seats in upcoming elections — if the proposed mahagathbandhan is forged — while junior partners like the Congress would get a raw deal.