Opposition leaders in the Punjab Assembly demanded an alcohol test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after alleging he attended a session intoxicated.
The demand highlights growing friction between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition blocs, including the BJP and Congress, as they challenge the CM's conduct and fitness for office.
The confrontation occurred during a one-day [1] special session of the Punjab Assembly in Chandigarh. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and other representatives from the BJP and Congress said Mann appeared to be under the influence of alcohol while participating in the proceedings.
Opposition members sought the medical test to verify the allegations and hold the Chief Minister accountable for his behavior on the assembly floor. The clash underscores a period of high tension in the state's legislative body.
Representatives of the ruling party rejected the accusations. Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema said the demand was part of a conspiracy to defame the Chief Minister.
Beyond the alcohol row, the assembly session saw significant political shifts. Six [2] Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab switched their affiliation from AAP to the BJP, further altering the political landscape of the state.
The opposition continues to press for transparency regarding the incident, while the administration maintains that the claims are baseless political maneuvers designed to undermine the leadership of the state.
“Opposition leaders demanded an alcohol test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.”
The demand for a medical test amidst a legislative session signals a breakdown in decorum and an escalation of personal attacks between the AAP government and the opposition. Combined with the defection of six Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP, these events suggest a volatile political environment in Punjab where the ruling party's authority is being challenged both behaviorally and numerically.
