Did Bhagwant Mann Arrive Drunk At Punjab Assembly? Opposition Demands Alcohol Test, CM Reacts

Last Updated:May 01, 2026, 5:52 PM IST

The Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal accused Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of arriving drunk in the state legislative assembly and demanded an alcohol test of all AAP MLAs.

Opposition MLAs in Punjab Assembly accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of bring drunk in the Vidhan Sabha premises.

A massive controversy erupted during a special one-day session at the Punjab Assembly on Friday after the Congress-led opposition accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of arriving at the state Assembly in an intoxicated state and demanded an alcohol test.

The controversy began when Mann objected to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira allegedly using a mobile phone in the Assembly, after which Khaira referred to Mann’s wife sitting in the visitors’ gallery during a previous session.

“She corrected herself. She is not a member of the House. You even target my daughter. You live there…. Oh this band! (you leave it… this guy is talking nonsense),” Mann said in what appeared to be a slurred speech.

Punjab Speaker Rejects Demand For Alcohol Test

As tempers flared, Khaira accused Mann of arriving at the State Assembly in an inebriated state and demanded an alcohol test. These demands were supported by Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who said all MLAs should undergo the alcohol meter test.

Bajwa wrote to the Punjab Assembly Speaker, demanding a mandatory alcohol meter and dope testing of all MLAs by a PGIMER medical team. He warned that Congress MLAs will not join proceedings unless the CM clears himself.

However, Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected the demand for an alcohol test, following which all Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly. “The session began on a positive note… but Congress always finds excuses to walk out,” Mann said, taking a swipe at the opposition.

“The Chief Minister repeatedly got up and raised various kinds of questions against opposition members, against me. When I was observing his demeanor, it was clearly visible that today he had consumed alcohol. He is an alcoholic anyway. But today, for the first time in the Assembly, we saw that he came after drinking alcohol,” Khaira later told reporters.

Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP react

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal also accused Mann of showing up at the Assembly in a drunk state. “The Shiromani Akali Dal demands that the Chief Minister undergo a dope test today in front of the entire Punjab so that Punjabis too can know the truth,” the party said.

Swati Maliwal, who quit AAP for the BJP recently, also echoed demands for an alcohol test. “How can a man who is only ever away from alcohol during sleep possibly run Punjab? CM Mann should undergo an alcohol test, and if found guilty, he should be removed from the CM position,” she said.

BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar said the incident, if found true, would be a blot on Punjab’s reputation. “The seat once held by leaders like Pratap Singh and Captain Amarinder Singh—if someone arrives there intoxicated as the Chief Minister of Punjab, it is a disgrace to the state,” he told reporters.

Mann, AAP Deny Allegations

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refuted the allegations made by the Opposition MLAs, with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema calling it a conspiracy to defame the Chief Minister.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Mann said the Congress had no issues to raise, saying, “What more test should be done?” He also said the Congress was absent during the confidence motion voting despite rumours about mass defection from the AAP.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat called it “shameful” for the Congress to level “false allegations” against an elected Head of State who wanted to discuss the welfare and betterment of workers.

The special session was convened by the ruling AAP to mark Labour Day and pay tribute to Punjab’s working class, days after several AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including six from Punjab, resigned and joined the BJP.

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