PATNA/ NEW DELHI: NDA ally JD(U) on Saturday claimed that it was not supposed to be part of the recast of the Modi government, scotching as “pure” speculation recent reports about the induction of party members in the central government.

“There was no such talk of JD(U) joining the Union Cabinet. No talks were held on the issue (between BJP and JD (U)),” Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said in Patna. Nitish said he came to know of reports about his party being part of the expansion through the media, and there was no official intimation.

He, however, clarified that JD(U) would definitely take a call if any proposal comes to join the Union Cabinet. “But as of now, there is no invitation,” he said.

JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said Sunday’s expansion seemed confined to BJP. “It seems, NDA partners will not be part of the expansion now.

We shall see when BJP considers its allies,” Tyagi said. The comments from JD(U) leaders came after intense speculation about the party’s MPs — RCP Singh and Santosh Kushwaha— joining the Modi cabinet.

Soon after Nitish formed a coalition government in alliance with BJP in Bihar, he had hinted at his party joining the Union Cabinet. In fact, his party’s inclusion in the Cabinet was seen as a foregone conclusion after it formally joined the NDA.