Opposition leaders from the Congress party demanded an alcohol test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after alleging he was intoxicated during an assembly session.
The demand highlights escalating tensions between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Such allegations of impairment during official proceedings can trigger constitutional crises or lead to formal motions of no confidence.
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa raised the issue, saying that the chief minister appeared intoxicated while presiding over the session. The opposition sought immediate verification through a medical test to ensure the integrity of the legislative process.
Chief Minister Mann dismissed the allegations. Members of his administration, including minister Harpal Cheema, said the demand was a political conspiracy designed to defame the leader of the state.
This confrontation occurred amidst a volatile political climate in the region. Reports indicate that six Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab switched their allegiance from the Aam Aadmi Party to the BJP [1].
The Aam Aadmi Party has not provided a formal timeline for a response to the test demand, though they have characterized the move as a tactic to disrupt the assembly's agenda. The Congress party said the demand is based on the observed behavior of the chief minister during the session.
“Congress demanded an alcohol test for CM Bhagwant Mann, alleging he was intoxicated during a Punjab Assembly session”
This clash reflects a deepening divide in Punjab's governance, where personal conduct allegations are being used as political levers. The simultaneous defection of lawmakers to the BJP suggests a shifting power dynamic that may leave the current administration more vulnerable to opposition pressure and legislative deadlock.
