India, Jan. 4 -- The Janata Dal United (JDU) is likely to join the BJP-led government at the Centre once the Union Cabinet is expanded. There are speculations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may expand his Cabinet after 14 January, when the inauspicious "Kharmas" period would be over.

According to sources, leaders of the two parties have held informal talks on the issue. Though the exact number of berths to be allocated to the JDU could not be ascertained, sources said the JDU may have three portfolios-all ministers of state, but one of them could be with independent charge.

JDU MPs Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, and Ram Chandra Prasad Singh are the front-runners who could be inducted. Others whose names are also doing the rou...