Opposition Alleges Intoxication Against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Amid Assembly Disruption
Opposition parties in Punjab accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of appearing intoxicated during a Labour Day assembly session, citing video evidence of slurred speech and unsteady behaviour. Demands for alcohol and drug tests were rejected by the Speaker, while key labour and education reforms were still passed amid rising political tensions and ongoing disputes between ruling and opposition parties.
The accusations triggered a heated exchange in the House, with opposition lawmakers demanding immediate locked-room alcohol detection tests and drug screening tests to verify the Chief Minister’s condition during the session. However, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected the demand, allowing the proceedings to continue without any such medical examination.
Despite the controversy, the assembly went ahead with key legislative decisions, including the passage of resolutions for a 15 percent minimum wage increase and a series of education reforms aimed at strengthening the state’s welfare framework. The session remained tense but functional as the legislative agenda was completed.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed the allegations as baseless political propaganda, rejecting claims of intoxication. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party emphasized that the session’s primary focus remained on worker welfare and public interest reforms, distancing itself from the opposition’s charges.
No alcohol or drug tests were conducted during or after the session, and the matter concluded without official medical verification, further intensifying the ongoing political friction within the state assembly. The incident adds to a continuing pattern of confrontations between the ruling party and opposition blocs over the conduct of the Chief Minister during legislative proceedings.
The episode underscores deepening political tensions in Punjab, with both sides sharply divided over allegations, governance priorities, and the conduct of elected leadership inside the assembly.

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