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The Scottish National Party (SNP) aims to raise £50,000 to proceed with legal action over the prime ministerial debate on BBC 1 on Thursday.The party said it was not trying to stop the broadcast but it wanted an SNP politician included "for balance".
Plaid Cymru said it supported the SNP's stance but would not take part in joint action due to separate legal systems.
Last week, the BBC Trust did not uphold a complaint from both parties over their exclusion from the debate.
The SNP said it had started a "fighting fund" to raise the money, over the next 48 hours, needed for the action.
If the appeal is a success, the party intends to lodge papers at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Tuesday morning.
The SNP said its proposed action would seek to ensure that the debate was broadcast in Scotland "with the nation's political make-up fairly reflected".
This would involve either having SNP representation in Thursday's debate or through an agreement to have a further" fair leaders' debate" organised before polling day.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "The decision by the BBC, who are meant to be Scotland's national broadcaster, paid for by our licence fees, not to have the country's political make-up properly represented next Thursday is a democratic disgrace.
"Everyone knows it is a stitch-up demanded by the London-based parties and meekly agreed to by the BBC.
"That's why the SNP are today launching a fighting fund to raise the money needed to challenge the BBC's decision in court."
Sky debate
Mr Salmond said the cash needed for the action was "a huge sum" for his party but he felt the issue was "too important to ignore".
Meanwhile, Mr Salmond, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell and Liberal Democrat Scottish spokesman Alistair Carmichael are due to take part in a debate on Sky News later.
The 90-minute programme will allow each politician the opportunity to respond to individual questions, followed by a session of open debate.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.