Jakarta - The leaders of Indonesia's two largest political parties met Thursday to discuss a possible alliance ahead of this year's presidential elections.

The meeting between Vice President Jusuf Kalla and former president Megawati Sukarnoputri could pave the way for a coalition that could threaten reelection chances of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Megawati, who chairs the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has been nominated to run in the July presidential election and is seeking a running mate that could boost her electability.

Kalla, chairman of the Golkar Party, the largest political grouping, has expressed readiness to run for president but is unlikely to be a serious challenge to Yudhoyono, with various opinion polls giving him less than five percent.

Megawati declined to reveal what was discussed in the meeting but said it did not touch the issue of a running mate.

"Just be patient. Before the presidential election we will hold a national meeting and we will then decide on a running mate," she told reporters after the talks with Kalla.

Yudhoyono and his running mate Kalla won the country's first direct presidential election in 2004 on pledges to root out corruption, seen endemic in the country, boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

Yudhoyono has not picked a running mate for the July election and may have to forge an alliance with for Islamic parties to if a Golkar-PDI-P coalition materializes, although his Democrat Party has topped some opinion polls.

Indonesia will hold the legislative elections on April 9, to be followed by the presidential election in July.

Thirty-eight parties are vying for seats in the 550-strong House of Representatives. (dpa)