Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann accused of attending assembly drunk as opposition demands alcohol test

Key facts

• Opposition MLAs demanded an alcohol test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 1, 2025.
• Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected the demand for a breath analyser or dope test.
• Congress staged a walkout, followed by BJP and Akali Dal MLAs.
• The AAP government won a confidence motion unanimously with all 117 AAP MLAs present.
• Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including six from Punjab, recently resigned and joined the BJP.
• Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar called for breath analyser tests for all legislators.

Chaos erupts during Labour Day session

The Punjab Assembly descended into turmoil on Friday after opposition legislators accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of attending the special one-day Labour Day session under the influence of alcohol. The Congress party staged a walkout after Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected their demand for an immediate alcohol test on Mann. The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party later followed suit, leaving the House largely to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

How the confrontation unfolded

The controversy began when Mann objected to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira allegedly using a mobile phone during proceedings. Khaira responded by referencing Mann’s wife sitting in the visitors’ gallery during an earlier session. During the heated exchange, Mann appeared to stammer and said, “She corrected herself. She is not a member of the House. You even target my daughter. Ae bakwas karda yeh banda (this guy is talking nonsense).” Khaira then accused Mann of arriving in the Assembly under the influence of alcohol, a charge supported by Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa.

Opposition demands and Speaker’s rejection

Bajwa demanded that all MLAs, including the chief minister, undergo an alcohol meter test to settle the matter. He later wrote to the Speaker, describing an unspecified incident as “deeply troubling” and warning that if left unaddressed, it “risks undermining public trust in this esteemed institution.” The Speaker rejected the demand for an ‘immediate’ dope test on Mann and all MLAs. The Shiromani Akali Dal released Assembly videos and called for a public dope test to “bring out the truth.”

AAP’s response and confidence motion

Rejecting the allegations, Punjab AAP chief and cabinet minister Aman Arora called them “baseless and frivolous remarks” that “amount to adding salt to the wounds of workers and undermining the dignity of the House.” The AAP government moved a confidence motion, which was passed unanimously with all 117 AAP MLAs present. Mann said, “BJP doesn’t have its own people. From where they will bring 117 people. I request this (Speaker) to pass this confidence motion unanimously. I will later take a copy of this confidence motion to the President.”

BJP and Akali Dal join the fray

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar called for breath analyser tests for all legislators present, stating, “If the government comes to the Assembly in an inebriated state, I believe it's not only an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, but also an insult to the temple of democracy.” He added, “If the breath analyser test of all leaders is done, then there will be no need for a floor test.” The Akali Dal echoed the demand, alleging it was “shameful” for Mann to attend proceedings after consuming alcohol.

Political context and fallout

The special session was convened by the AAP to mark Labour Day and honour Punjab’s working class. The incident comes days after seven of the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including six from Punjab, resigned and joined the BJP, weakening the AAP’s national presence. The opposition’s walkout and the Speaker’s rejection of the alcohol test have deepened the political rift, with the Congress accusing Mann of undermining the dignity of the House.

What lies ahead

The opposition has not indicated whether it will pursue the matter further, but Bajwa’s letter to the Speaker suggests the issue may be raised again. The AAP government, having won the confidence motion, appears to have weathered the immediate crisis, but the allegations have cast a shadow over Mann’s leadership. The demand for a dope test, though rejected, has become a rallying point for the opposition, and the release of Assembly videos by the Akali Dal could fuel public scrutiny.

The bottom line

• Opposition parties accused Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of being drunk during a special assembly session on Labour Day.
• Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected demands for an alcohol or dope test on Mann and all MLAs.
• Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal MLAs walked out of the assembly in protest.
• The AAP government won a confidence motion unanimously with all its MLAs present.
• The controversy follows the recent resignation of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who joined the BJP.
• The opposition has called for a breath analyser test for all legislators, but no action has been taken.