Hooda says was not invited for Khattar's swearing-in ceremony

Former Haryana chief minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday said that he was not invited for the swearing-in-ceremony of his successor Manohar Lal Khattar.

"I was not invited, had I been invited I would have thought about it," he said.

Hooda expressed hope that Khattar-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Haryana would continue with same speed of development in the state.

"Congratulations to new government in Haryana, I hope the speed of development we brought is maintained," he said.

BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar was earlier in the day sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Haryana. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at Panchkula's HUDA ground.

Elaborate arrangements were made for the function which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and several top NDA leaders including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Khattar, a first time MLA, represents Karnal constituency in the Haryana Assembly. Sixty-year-old Khattar is Haryana's first non-Jat chief minister in 18 years.

Khattar, who was an RSS worker from 1980 to 1994, is said to be close to Prime Minister Modi.

The BJP created history in the Haryana polls by coming to power on its own for the first time, bagging 47 seats in the 90-member assembly.