AAP leader Bhagwant Mann vows to give up drinking, 'wins heart' of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker Bhagwant Mann, who has often been accused of drunken behavior in public, revealed on Sunday that he had given up drinking on his mor's advice. And promptly got a back-slapping endorsement from party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who called it a "big sacrifice".

"My political opponents often level accusations against me, saying 'Bhagwant Mann drinks too much and is drunk day and night'. Brors, it always pained me when I saw old videos of myself on social media where I was being defamed," Mr Mann said at a rally.

He said he had given up drinking as of January 1 and hoped to stay firm on his resolve for rest of his life. "I admit I used to take liquor occasionally. But my political opponents maligned me. Today my mor is here. She had told me that people maligned me excessively on television and n asked me to stop taking liquor. w y cant defame me," said Mr Mann, who is expected to contest upcoming national election from his seat Sangrur in Punjab.

In 2016, suspended AAP lawmaker Harinder Singh Khalsa had complained against Mr Mann to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, requesting her to change his seat in Parliament as Mr Mann, who sat next to him, reeked of alcohol.

Mr Kejriwal praised Mr Mann for giving up drinking, saying it was ' small commitment'. "Friends, Bhagwant Mann has won my heart. t only mine, he also won hearts of entire Punjab. Every leader should be like him and be ready to make any kind of sacrifice for people. It is t a small thing to make such a big commitment. He says he will t touch liquor. It is a very big thing," said Mr Kejriwal.

READ: Those Who Left AAP Were 'opportunists': Kejriwal

Mr Kejriwal said Mr Mann, who was a stand-up comic, gave up his thriving career to serve people of Punjab. "Today Punjab is sinking because of drugs. In last Punjab elections, Mr Mann fought against Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad seat because he felt at that time Sukhbir was biggest guilty for situation Punjab was in. Today, Sukhbir Badal is responsible for drugs in Punjab," alleged Mr Kejriwal.

Mr Kejriwal later told reporters that AAP would contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. "We will contest all 13 seats in Punjab. re will be alliance with Congress in Delhi or in Punjab. People were earlier fed up with Akali Dal and w with Congress as y failed to hour any poll promise. We will carry out same work in Punjab as we have done in Delhi," said Mr Kejriwal.