The much-awaited expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet is likely to be delayed further to December 30, an NCP leader said on Monday night, adding that senior leader Ajit Pawar could make a comeback as deputy chief minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government.

Amid talks of imminent expansion of the cabinet, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar held discussions for nearly one hour at the Sahyadri Guest House on Monday evening. No leader of the ally Congress was present at the meeting, NCP sources said.