The Punjab Assembly session erupted into chaos on May 1, 2026, as opposition members demanded an alcohol test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, leading to heated confrontations and multiple walkouts. The special session, convened to honor workers on Labour Day, quickly devolved into a battleground over allegations of misconduct.
During the proceedings, Chief Minister Mann expressed his frustration regarding Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s use of a mobile phone in the chamber, stating, “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).” This remark highlighted the growing tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress members.
Opposition MLAs rallied around the demand for an alcohol test, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa supporting the call for testing all legislators, including Mann. However, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected this demand outright. The situation escalated when BJP leader Sunil Jakhar suggested that breath analyser tests should apply to all present in the Assembly, asserting that entering a temple or gurudwara under the influence of alcohol is “contempt and disrespect.”
The controversy intensified as Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused Mann of appearing in the assembly ‘drunk’, further fueling accusations against the AAP government. Aman Arora from AAP countered these claims by stating that such remarks were unfortunate and detrimental to the dignity of the House.
In response to the uproar, the AAP government moved a confidence motion which passed unanimously amid the chaos. Nevertheless, this did little to quell dissent; the Congress staged a walkout from the House, followed later by members from both BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal.
The assembly session’s primary purpose was to pay tribute to Punjab’s working class on Labour Day, yet it became overshadowed by political strife and allegations regarding Chief Minister Mann’s behavior. The ongoing political tensions highlight concerns over public trust in governmental institutions.
As discussions continue regarding accountability and transparency within the Assembly, it remains uncertain how this episode will impact public perceptions of leadership in Punjab. The next steps in addressing these allegations have yet to be clarified by officials.
