Mumbai: Shiv Sena Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had wanted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule to join the Union Cabinet, but she had turned him down.

Writing in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Mr Raut said Mr Modi had expressed his wish to NCP chief Sharad Pawar in front of Ms Sule. However, Ms Sule had rejected it, saying she would be the “last one to join hands with BJP’ Mr Raut, who is also executive editor of Saamana, wrote in his weekly column Rokhthok (Straightforward).

This is the first confirmation of rumours about Mr Modi inviting the NCP to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mr Raut also wrote about the recent Cabinet reshuffle at the Centre. "I once got a chance to discuss with Mr Pawar about NCP joining the Cabinet. I asked him 'What is the truth?’ He rubbished the claim.” Mr Raut further wrote, “Mr Pawar even told that once Mr Modi had expressed his wish of Supriya joining his Cabinet.”

He quoted Mr Pawar as saying, 'Supriya was with me that time. She herself clearly told Mr Modi that she would be last person to join the BJP'.

Mr Raut also wrote that meetings are still being held between NCP and BJP leaders in Mumbai. “Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis may want to join hands with NCP and so secret meetings with NCP and BJP leaders might be going on, but Sena (a partner in the state government) should not get disturbed about it,” he wrote.

The Asian Age tried to contact Mr Raut and Ms Sule but got no response.