Within hours after the BJP took the reins in Haryana Sunday, the swords were out between the new government and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The Haryana government rebutted Hooda's comment that he did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as he had "received no invitation".
Hooda said: "I could have considered it if I had been sent an invitation. No invitation was received from the BJP."
A Haryana government spokesman said the office of deputy commissioner, Rohtak, delivered an invitation card at the residence of Hooda his son at Rohtak Oct 25.
"The invitation was delivered by an official at about 1.00 p.m. Apart from this, one chair was exclusively reserved for the outgoing chief minister on the dais," the spokesman said.
He said Hooda's name also figured among the dignitaries who were to receive the prime minister at the Chandigarh airport.
Hooda remained chief minister from March 2005 to October 2014.
Khattar and nine ministers were sworn in Sunday in Panchkula town, adjoining Chandigarh.
