Senior leaders of Janata Dal (United) will meet in Patna today to take a final decision on the future of JD(U)-BJP alliance. While the crucial meeting will take place at 12.30 PM, the outcome will be announced at 3 PM. This was disclosed by JD(U) President Sharad Yadav in Patna last evening.

Immediately after arrival in Patna, Mr Yadav went to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence and held deliberations with him. Party's National Council has already authorised Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar to take a final decision on the alliance with BJP.

The two parties appeared set for imminent parting of ways in the wake of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as Chairman of BJP's Campaign Committee for 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier in the day, senior Bihar BJP leaders met at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi to take stock of the situation. Bihar NDA Convenor Nand Kishore Yadav and Sushil Modi also turned down an invitation by Nitish Kumar to discuss the current political situation.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad held a meeting at his residence in New Delhi with party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain and General Secretary in-charge of Bihar affairs Dharmendra Pradhan. Talking to reporters after the meeting Mr. Prasad said that they deliberated on the ongoing developments in Bihar and hoped that the BJP-JDU alliance continues.

Meanwhile, the Congress has said that the JD(U) is a like-minded party and it has faith in secularism. Party spokesman Bhakta Charan Das told reporters in New Delhi that like-minded secular parties have come together in the past and can come together even in future.