Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Virendra Sachdeva on Friday, 1 May 2025, alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended a special one-day Labour Day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha under the influence of alcohol, saying the incident has brought shame to democratic institutions. The allegations were echoed by the Indian National Congress (INC), which staged a walkout from the House and demanded a breath analyser test on all legislators present.

What BJP Alleged

Sachdeva claimed that Mann "staggered" into the Assembly and spoke with slurred speech, raising questions not only about the Chief Minister but also about the Speaker for failing to intervene. "Today, by staggering into the House and speaking in such a condition, he has crossed all limits of propriety," Sachdeva said. He further alleged that Mann's appearance reflected a loss of confidence in the stability of his own government.

Sachdeva also alleged that this was not the first such incident, claiming Mann had earlier reportedly attended the Lok Sabha in a similar condition during his tenure as a Member of Parliament. The Delhi BJP chief called on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal to take immediate disciplinary action against Mann.

BJP Punjab Chief's Demands

BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar, speaking in Chandigarh, demanded that a breath alcohol analyser test be conducted before any floor test in the Punjab Assembly. "Let the floor test happen later, but a breath analyser test should come first — that is my demand. Chief Minister, whether you conduct a floor test or not, or even a no-confidence motion, a breath analyser test of the leaders in the Punjab Assembly must definitely be conducted today," Jakhar told IANS.

Jakhar also alleged misconduct at a Cabinet meeting held earlier the same day, claiming two ministers were insulted using "highly inappropriate" language, and that even the Chief Secretary was addressed in similarly offensive terms. "If the government comes to the Assembly in such an intoxicated state, it is an insult to the institution. The Assembly is a temple of democracy," he added.

Congress Walkout and Opposition Demands

The Congress staged a walkout during the special session, alleging that questions had been raised about the conduct and physical condition of members during proceedings. The party insisted that medical verification was necessary to maintain transparency and accountability in the House.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also demanded a closed-door alcohol test on all MLAs inside the Vidhan Sabha, framing it as a matter of institutional integrity rather than a purely political challenge.

Context and Background

The special session was convened on Labour Day amid ongoing political tensions in Punjab. The acrimonious scenes — including the Congress walkout and BJP's breath-analyser demand — underscore the deepening political friction surrounding the AAP-led Punjab government. Notably, all the allegations against Mann remain unverified and have not been substantiated by any official medical or forensic record. The AAP government has not issued a formal response to the allegations as of the time of reporting.

With political temperatures rising in Punjab, the episode is expected to fuel further confrontation between the ruling AAP and opposition parties in the days ahead.