The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) party meet began here Saturday to decide on future alliance with the BJP-led NDA, as the issue of a prime ministerial candidate became contentious.
While party sources said several issues would be discussed, the growing demand for projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate has caused the JD-U much discomfort.
The meeting will be addressed by senior JD-U leaders, including party president Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"The meeting of JD-U has begun. There will be several issues which will come up," party sources said.
Asked whether the candidature of Modi for prime minister would come up in the meeting, the source said: "I can't say much, let's see what happens in the meeting."
Party sources had earlier said the JD-U could decide to part ways with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if Modi is projected as the prime ministerial candidate by the alliance for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
JD-U leaders had said their party, in alliance with the BJP, would work on a common national agenda. They said the JD-U was expected to demand an early decision on the prime ministerial candidate to bring clarity on the matter.
A national convention will be held Sunday.
Party sources said the first day of the meeting would see resolutions passed on the present political scenario, and on economic and foreign policy.
The party will also discuss organisational matters and electoral challenges, including the polls to five state assemblies and the Lok Sabha in 2014.
The party has been consistently demanding special category status for Bihar and has indicated that its decision to lend support to other political outfits after the 2014 polls would hinge on this issue.