Punjab Polls 2027: Congress-AAP Feud Turns Personal, Rahul Gandhi and Bhagwant Mann Face Fresh Attacks

With Punjab heading for assembly elections in early 2027, alcohol and drug abuse have become major flashpoints in the three-way battle between Congress, the AAP and the BJP. While Congress is targeting CM Bhagwant Mann over his alleged drinking habits and failure to curb drugs, the AAP has launched an attack on Rahul Gandhi, calling him "Pappu".

Post Published By: Pradeep Tripathi

Updated : 5 November 2026, 5:44 PM IST

Congress-AAP War Turns Personal Ahead Of Punjab Elections (Img: X)

New Delhi: The battle in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections has turned ugly, with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP)trading below-the-belt blows. The attacks are increasingly getting personal. Right after, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of smelling of alcohol even at 11 in the morning during his days in Parliament.

The AAP retaliated by mocking Rahul Gandhi as"Pappu", asking people to share their favourite jokes about him. The AAP also said "similar allegations" had been made against Gandhi too. The spat has turned ugly between two INDIA bloc partners who are now allies only in name.

Rahul Gandhi Targets Bhagwant Mann Over Alleged Drinking Habits

The war of words comes three to four months before Punjab is expected to vote. The AAP is in power in Punjab, and the Congress is the primary opposition party. Gandhi launched the Congress's Punjab poll campaign at the Insaaf Rally in Sangrur on 4th November, following Mann's controversial foreign trip and the Opposition protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

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With Punjab heading for assembly elections in early 2027, alcohol and drug abuse have become major flashpoints in the three-way battle between the Congress, the AAP and the BJP. While the Congress is targeting CM Mann over his alleged drinking habits and failure to curb drugs, the AAP has launched an attack on Rahul Gandhi over what the Arvind Kejriwal-led party called
"personal attacks".

AAP Hits Back With 'Pappu' Jibe, Shares Gandhi's Potato-Gold Remark

After Rahul Gandhi alleged that Mann could not fight Punjab's drug menace while being intoxicated daily, the AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj accused him of making "below-the-belt attacks". The AAP also appeared irked that Rahul Gandhi was targeting its government in Punjab instead of taking on the BJP and its chief ministers in other states.

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The AAP went a step further, mocking Gandhi as "pappu" on X and asking people to share their "favourite Pappu quote". Then, the AAP offered its own pick. "If I put potatoes in from one side, gold will come out from the other", the AAP said on X.

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐮 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞!

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤: “इधर से आलू डालूंगा, तो उधर से सोना निकलेगा।” https://t.co/laLRrkeydv

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 4, 2026