BJP, Congress slam Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over Assembly drunk allegations
Synopsis
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who has championed a drug-free Punjab agenda, now faces allegations of appearing intoxicated inside the state Assembly — drawing simultaneous fire from both BJP and Congress. He survived a confidence motion unanimously, but the political and reputational damage may linger well beyond the session.
Key Takeaways
BJP and Congress jointly attacked Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on 1 May over allegations of appearing drunk inside the Punjab Assembly .
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva called the conduct shameful, noting Mann had pledged to make Punjab free of intoxication.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Mann prove the allegations wrong, saying the state's image was being tarnished.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa called it the most serious charge levelled against a sitting CM in 75 years of independence.
Despite the controversy, CM Mann won the confidence motion in the Assembly with unanimous support.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress on Friday, 1 May launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following allegations that he appeared intoxicated inside the Punjab Assembly. The attack carries a pointed irony: Mann is the same leader who has repeatedly pledged to make Punjab drug-free and free of intoxication.
BJP's Reaction
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva expressed strong disapproval, stating: "I am surprised that a person who has taken the oath of the Constitution, is holding such a position, and speaking in the premises of the Assembly, is struggling under the influence of alcohol." Sachdeva underlined that both the Assembly and Parliament are temples of democracy, adding, "If Bhagwant Mann is doing such a practice in that temple, then it is very shameful."
Sachdeva further alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had initiated a similar culture in Delhi, drawing a broader pattern of conduct across the party's leadership.
Congress Demands Accountability
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring questioned who would uphold Assembly rules if the Chief Minister himself failed to do so. "If the Opposition has raised a point and if there is no such thing, then the Chief Minister should prove it. Due to such acts, the image of Punjab and its people is being tarnished," he told IANS.
Warring also alleged that the Punjab government, including Chief Minister Mann, is operating under political "pressure", reportedly from BJP leaders Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak. He added that AAP is in a "very delicate situation" and is not even trusting its own MLAs.
Leader of Opposition Calls It Historic Low
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, described the episode as unprecedented. "This is the first time in 75 years after the independence of the country that such a serious charge has been levelled against the Chief Minister, the elected leader of the House. And he was not ready to accept it," Bajwa said. He argued that Mann's failure to clarify his position effectively validated the Congress allegation.
Mann Wins Confidence Motion
Despite the political storm, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann won the confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly with unanimous support. The AAP government's floor strength remains intact for now, even as the opposition continues to press the issue on optics and accountability grounds.
The controversy is likely to intensify as the Punjab Assembly session continues, with both BJP and Congress signalling they intend to keep the pressure on Mann over the allegations.
Point of View
Sober state — making any perception of contradiction at the top a direct liability. That both BJP and Congress moved in unison, rather than competing for the attack, suggests the opposition sees this as a rare moment of cross-partisan consensus. Mann's unanimous confidence motion win is a floor arithmetic victory, not a reputational one — and in Punjab's charged political climate, the distinction matters.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the allegations against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann?
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has been accused by opposition leaders of appearing intoxicated inside the Punjab Assembly. Both BJP and Congress have demanded he clarify his position, though Mann has not publicly addressed the specific allegations.
How did Bhagwant Mann respond to the allegations?
According to Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, CM Mann was not ready to accept the charge and did not clarify his position during the Assembly session. However, Mann won the subsequent confidence motion with unanimous support.
Why is this controversy particularly significant for AAP?
AAP and CM Bhagwant Mann have made drug eradication a central plank of their governance in Punjab. Allegations of the Chief Minister appearing intoxicated in the Assembly directly contradict that public commitment, giving the opposition a politically potent line of attack.
What did the Leader of Opposition say about the incident?
Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, called it the most serious charge levelled against a sitting Chief Minister in 75 years since India's independence, and said Mann's refusal to clarify validated the Congress allegation.
Did Bhagwant Mann survive the confidence motion?
Yes, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann won the confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly with unanimous support, keeping the AAP government's majority intact despite the political controversy.
