New Delhi (PTI): US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is likley to push for a bipartisan support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal during his crucial meeting with BJP strongman L K Advani here on Wednesday.

Advani, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is the only prominent opposition leader that the US Defence Secretary would be meeting during his two-day visit here begining on Tuesday.

The one-on-one meeting is seen here as a fresh bid by Washington to shore up support for the civil nuclear agreement as Washington feels time is running out.

BJP is opposing the nuclear deal in its current form and has sought re-negotiations.

The renewed US efforts comes against the backdrop of New Delhi continuing its parleys with the IAEA in Vienna to tie up a safeguards agreement.

Gates, during his day-and-half busy schedule in the capital, is likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, his counterpart in India A K Antony and have a lengthy luncheon meeting with National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.