New Delhi, July 3 (IBNS): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said his Janata Dal (United) is supporting United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee as an individual.

He said JD(U) will not support the UPA or its policies.

“Our party is supporting Pranab Mukherjee as an individual leader and also as a politician," Kumar said while addressing a press conference. "We are not going to support the UPA."

Kumar said he has invited the former Union Finance Minister to visit Bihar first after becoming the President of the country.

“I have invited UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee to visit Bihar after becoming elected as the President of the country,”  he said.

The JD(U) on June 21 announced it will support Mukherjee in the Presidential election while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it will back former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma for the titular post.

Earlier, JD(U) supremo Sharad Yadav said there is no rift within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and that it will remain united.

"The support of the JD(U) to UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee is no indication of any rift in the NDA. It is united and will remain so," Yadav said.

Pertinently, the JD(U) is a key ally of the BJP-led NDA.

The Presidential election is scheduled for July 19.