The talks for third front are getting louder amid the speculation over widening rift in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamta Banarjee has spoken to her Odisha and Bihar counterparts on the formation of a federal front. JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi also had a meeting with Ms. Banarjee in Kolkata today in this regard.

Meanwhile, BJP has said that it will try to continue its alliance with JD(U) in the interest of the people of Bihar. Briefing reporters in New Delhi, today party spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain said that people of the state gave mandate to the BJP- JD(U) alliance and it should be respected. He also dismissed media reports of his party's differences with JD(U).

Senior BJP leader L K Advani also spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav amidst speculation that the two parties may part ways over the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as chairman of BJP's campaign Committee. Sources said Mr. Advani during the telephone conversations with the two leaders, impressed upon them to stay united to face the Lok Sabha elections.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh has also been talking about getting like-minded parties together for the formation of a third front to form government at the centre. His party is extending crucial external support to the UPA but he has repeatedly said that he does not expect the partnership to extend to next general elections in 2014.

In another politically significant move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that all secular parties are welcome in the UPA. However he dismissed the possibility of early elections.

Meanwhile, the JD-U leadership in Bihar has asked its MLAs and MLCs to be present in Patna on June 14 and 15 to decide the fate of the alliance with BJP.