Kolkata: The war of words between Congress and Trinamool Congress, the two ruling allies in West Bengal, seems to have escalated.

Addressing a meeting in Kolkata today, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that his party does not need any sermons from anyone and that the Congress has not taken Voluntary Retirement from West Bengal.

"Congress is a political party and not an NGO. We have not taken (political) sanyas," the minister said.

Jairam's sharp comments came in reaction to a remark from Trinamool chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who had said in an interview to a local television channel that the Congress needed the TMC more at the Centre and that it was up to the Congress to decide whether to stay in the alliance in West Bengal.

Ms Banerjee in turn was reacting to a rally by Youth Congress activists against attacks on them by Trinamool workers.

The anti-government protest was held in the Kolkata South Lok Sabha constituency where by-elections are scheduled on November 30 with Trinamool Congress candidate Subrata Bakshi, the Transport minister and CPM's Ritabrata Banerjee being the main contenders.

(With PTI inputs)

Tags: Jairam Ramesh, Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress, West Bengal