Bhagwant mann: Chaos in Punjab Assembly: Faces Alcohol Test Demands
“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),” said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a tumultuous session of the Punjab Assembly on May 1, 2026.
The assembly convened a special session to honor workers on Labour Day, but it quickly spiraled into chaos. Opposition MLAs demanded an alcohol test for Mann, igniting heated confrontations between members of the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress.
The uproar began when Mann objected to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira using a mobile phone during proceedings. This confrontation escalated tensions, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa supporting calls for an alcohol meter test for all MLAs, including the Chief Minister.
The Speaker, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, rejected the demand for an immediate alcohol test, further inflaming the situation. As voices rose and accusations flew, the Congress staged a walkout from the House.
Later, MLAs from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal joined in the walkout. BJP leader Sunil Jakhar called for breath analyzer tests for all legislators present in the assembly. He stated, “If someone enters a temple or gurudwara under the influence of alcohol, it’s contempt and disrespect.”
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused Mann of appearing drunk during the proceedings. In response to these claims, AAP’s Aman Arora denounced the Congress’s remarks as “baseless and frivolous,” arguing they undermine public trust in the assembly.
The AAP government managed to pass a confidence motion unanimously amid this turmoil. However, with political tensions escalating and public scrutiny intensifying, how these events will impact Mann’s leadership remains uncertain.
The next assembly session is expected to address these controversies and restore order as leaders grapple with maintaining public trust in their governance.
