Parkash Singh Badal attends Manohar Lal Khattar's swearing in, Bhupinder Singh Hooda 'not invited'

PANCHKULA: Parkash Singh Badal, whose SAD had campaigned against BJP in Haryana, today attended the swearing in of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar but outgoing CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda was conspicuous by his absence.

The Punjab Chief Minister was under fire from BJP leaders after the SAD leadership, including Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, had campaigned against the saffron party nominees during the Assembly elections.

In fact, 86-year-old Badal was among the dignitaries who reached the venue - Sector 5 HUDA ground - here early. But not much pleasantries were exchanged between Badal and the top BJP leadership present there.

Outgoing Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda did not attend the function saying he had not received an invite.

"I did not get the invite. Had I got one, I would have thought over it (whether to attend)," Hooda told reporters.

Om Parkash Chautala-led INLD, which was the principal opposition, was represented by Abhay Chautala.

Abhay arrived at the venue after all dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seated on the dais and the national anthem was in progress.

He was stopped by the security personnel till the national anthem was over. He then went to the stage, but not from the side from where all VVIPs had walked in.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan was among the non-BJP leaders who attended the ceremony.

48 years after formation of Haryana, the state got its first BJP Government headed by first time MLA Manohar Lal Khattar who was sworn in by Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki with a nine-member Council of Ministers.

Prime Minister Modi, veteran BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP President Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of four BJP ruled states - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, were among those present.

At the end of the function, Khattar exchanged pleasantries with the dignitaries and touched Advani's feet to seek his blessings.

Badal was seated next to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil and Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Senior BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had hit out at the Akalis for tying up with INLD in Haryana against the BJP, was also present.

A representative of the political wing of the Sirsa-based sect Dera Sacha Sauda also attended the function. Notably,the Dera's political wing had extended its support to the BJP ahead of the Haryana assembly polls.