“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),” Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann exclaimed, his voice echoing through the tumultuous Punjab Assembly. This outburst came during a special session meant to honor workers on Labour Day, but instead, it spiraled into chaos.
The atmosphere shifted when opposition MLAs demanded an alcohol test for Mann, igniting fierce confrontations between members of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. The session was supposed to celebrate the contributions of Punjab’s working class; instead, it showcased deep political tensions. Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan dismissed the demand for an alcohol test, yet the clamor persisted.
Earlier that day, Mann had confronted Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira about using a mobile phone during proceedings. That moment escalated quickly—partisan lines were drawn sharply. Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition, supported calls for an alcohol meter test for all MLAs, including the Chief Minister himself.
The fallout was immediate:
- The Congress staged a walkout from the House amid rising tensions.
- Later, MLAs from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal followed suit, leaving the assembly in disarray.
- BJP leader Sunil Jakhar insisted on breath analyzer tests for all legislators present.
In this charged environment, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused Mann of appearing ‘drunk’ in the assembly—a claim that only intensified the situation. Aman Arora from AAP defended Mann, stating that such accusations were baseless and undermined the dignity of the assembly.
This special session had been convened to pay tribute to workers but ended up highlighting how fragile public trust can be in political institutions. Bajwa remarked that if these issues go unaddressed, they risk undermining faith in this esteemed institution.
As the dust settled on this chaotic day in the Punjab Assembly—marked by heated exchanges and multiple walkouts—the AAP government did manage to pass a confidence motion unanimously. Yet, with such divisive rhetoric and public accusations swirling around Mann’s leadership, questions linger about how this will impact future sessions and public perception.
