Pranab Mukherjee returns the favour, will visit Nitish Kumar and Bihar next month

New Delhi: The new President of India has confirmed that he will travel to Patna after August 15, making this one of Pranab Mukherjee's first tours after moving into Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced today that a formal invite was sent to Mr Mukherjee, who has accepted.  The new president will help inaugurate the agricultural road map chalked out by the chief minister. The plan is to double food production through a new green revolution.  24 departments which include agriculture, irrigation, dairy will collectively spend 1.5 lakh crores in the  next five years.  

The chief minister broke ranks with the coalition that he belongs to -the NDA, which is led by the BJP -to vote for Mr Mukherjee in the election for President.  The BJP endorsed former speaker PA Sangma.  

Mr Kumar was present in parliament for Mr Mukherjee's swearing-in on Wednesday.

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