Opposition-backed candidate PA Sangma arrived in Patna on Saturday seeking support in the July 19 Presidential election.
Accompanied by BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Anant Kumar, Sangma reached a hotel to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, BJP sources said.
"More than half a dozen BJP ministers and hundreds of party workers welcomed him," a party leader said.
The BJP's ally and coalition partner, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), is supporting the United Progressive Alliance presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party are also backing Mukherjee.