Khattar targets Hooda on his home turf, Cong leader launches counter attack

As campaigning peaks for the sixth phase of polling, Manohar Lal Khattar and Bhupinder Singh Hooda engaged in a war of words on Monday, with the Haryana chief minister asking his predecessor to stop "day dreaming" about helming the state again.

Hooda responded by taking a veiled dig at Khattar's bachelor status. He said Khattar does not understand the respect that sons-in-law and other relations have in India's culture and society.

All the 10 seats in Haryana will vote on May 12.

Interacting with people in Rohtak, Khattar said the senior Congress leader is harbouring the ambition of becoming the chief minister again but he should stop day dreaming about it.

He criticised Hooda for reportedly saying his victory from Sonipat Lok Sabha seat would pave the way for him to regain the chief minister's chair through Delhi.

"Leave aside reaching Chandigarh, the former chief minister will not even get a chance to reach Delhi," Khattar said.

Hooda, a sitting MLA from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi in Rohtak