Earlier, alarmed by the possibility of a fresh exodus of Independents to the Congress, Joshi had declared that he would expand his Cabinet on December 7. Then Joshi had declared that he would induct three to four members including a few Independents. Even at the high-level meeting of Sena leaders on Thursday night, Joshi had declared that he would induct three ministers, one each from the BJP and Shiv Sena and one from the Independents. Subsequently on the directives of Thackeray, Joshi once against postponed the expansion plan.

Confirming the directive, Thackeray said it was postponed mainly for better consultation with the BJP leaders. ``I felt that before expanding the Cabinet, we should have a meeting with senior BJP leader PramodMahajan, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde and also with our own leaders,'' Thackeray told The Indian Express.

Secondly, Thackeray said there was no urgency for Cabinet expansion since work of any of the departments was not adversely affected. ``Certainly, some Cabinet ministers were sacked in July-August. However, all the vacancies were filled up and as such there was no immediate need for the Cabinet expansion,'' Thackeray said.

When asked if the expansion was postponed owing to pressure from BJP to include former Minister Ashok Patil Dongaonkar, Thackeray said there was no substance in it. BJP never insisted on his inclusion in the Cabinet, he added.