Opposition MLA Partap Singh Bajwa has demanded an alcohol test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following allegations the leader was intoxicated during a legislative session [1].
The request highlights a deepening rift between the state's ruling party and the opposition. If the demand is granted, it would mark a rare instance of a sitting chief minister being required to undergo medical screening due to conduct in the assembly.
Bajwa wrote to the Punjab Assembly speaker in Chandigarh to formalize the request [1]. The opposition said that Mann appeared intoxicated while proceedings were underway in the Punjab Legislative Assembly [2]. According to the dossier, the demand seeks verification of the chief minister's sobriety during his official duties [1].
Government officials have dismissed the request as a political conspiracy. They said the move is an attempt to defame the chief minister and disrupt the functioning of the state government [2].
The confrontation occurred within the assembly, where the opposition sought to hold the executive accountable for the leader's perceived behavior [1]. No specific date for the alleged incident was provided in the available records, though the demand has sparked significant political drama in the region [2].
The request focuses on the integrity of the legislative process, and the conduct of the state's highest executive officer. The opposition said that the chief minister's state of sobriety is relevant to his ability to lead the session and govern the state [1].
“Opposition MLA Partap Singh Bajwa has demanded an alcohol test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann”
This incident reflects the highly polarized nature of Punjab's legislative environment. By framing a conduct issue as a medical requirement, the opposition is attempting to challenge the personal credibility and professional fitness of the chief minister. The government's characterization of the move as a 'conspiracy' suggests that the dispute is as much about political optics and public perception as it is about the specific allegations of intoxication.
