Bihar government has declared a one-day state mourning today in honour of veteran BJP leader Kailashpati Mishra for his contribution in the social life of the state in the last seven decades.

The national flag will be flown at half mast as a mark of respect to the departed leader in all government offices, according to an official statement in Patna.

"Considering the spectacular contribution of Kailashpati Mishra in our social life, the Bihar government has declared one day state mourning today," the statement added.

Mishra, veteran BJP leader and former Governor of Gujarat and Rajasthan, died in Patna on Saturday after a prolonged illness.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar who visted Mishra's residence to pay his respect yesterday had announced that he would be cremated with full state honours on Sunday.

BJP patriach LK Advani, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar are scheduled to arrive in Patna late afternoon to pay their condolences to the departed leader who had his roots in Jan Sangh.

Mishra (89) will be cremated on the bank of the Ganga this evening.