Politics · India Bureau
Gandhi's jab at Punjab CM widens Congress-AAP rift before polls
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of being intoxicated during official hours. The barb has further strained ties between the two opposition parties ahead of state elections.
LSN India ·
Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party leader reeked of alcohol during morning hours and questioning his credibility in combating drug abuse in the state.
The Congress leader's remarks, made during a political address, suggested a stark contradiction in Mann's anti-drug stance given the alleged condition of the chief minister. Gandhi pointedly questioned how Mann could lead a meaningful campaign against substance abuse while allegedly being intoxicated himself during office hours.
The inflammatory comment marks an escalation in the ongoing friction between the Congress and AAP, two parties that have positioned themselves as alternatives to the BJP in Punjab. Relations between the regional allies have grown increasingly acrimonious as both compete for electoral support in the state.
The accusation has added another layer to the political tensions in Punjab, where drug abuse has emerged as a significant electoral issue. Mann's government has prioritized drug control as a key policy initiative, making Gandhi's allegation particularly pointed.
The verbal sparring underscores the fractured opposition landscape in Punjab, where cooperation between Congress and AAP has remained limited despite their shared political positioning against the ruling BJP at the national level.