CM Mann leaves for week-long naturopathy course in Bangalore

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday left for a week-long naturopathy and wellness programme in Bangalore. He is scheduled to return on March 5, a day before the start of the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha.Mann's naturopathy course at a naturecure institute follows his recent hospitalisation after he complained of exhaustion and fatigue. He initially felt unwell while attending a Mahashivratri event in Sangrur alongside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and was admitted for clinical observation at a private hospital in Mohali. AAP leader Manish Sisodia visited him to enquire about his health. He was finally discharged on February 19.Party sources, meanwhile, said Mann's naturopathy programme was for general wellness and not for treating any specific ailment. Earlier, ahead of the 2017 assembly elections, Mann attended a similar naturopathy and wellness programme to recuperate from his demanding political schedule.Just like Mann's wellness breaks, Kejriwal too takes time off for 10-day Vipassana meditation courses to manage stress and recuperate. He attended such silent retreats, including a session in March 2025 at a centre in Hoshiarpur, after the Delhi assembly elections. The visit sparked a political controversy, with opposition parties alleging that he arrived with a large security entourage of over 20 vehicles. Before that, he had attended a similar programme at the same Hoshiarpur centre in Dec 2023. Meanwhile, Mann will return before the budget session, which will commence with the governor's address on March 6. The budget will be presented on March 8, and the AAP govt is expected to announce the much-hyped Rs 1,100 monthly stipend for women in the state, which was a pre-poll promise of the party.