Rohit Shishodia
It seems the issue of administration of free Covid vaccine to all will dominate the discourse in all poll-bound states in India. After the BJP promised free Covid vaccines to all if it returns to power in Bihar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has also announced that Covid vaccine will be made available free of cost to all people in the state.

Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu are likely to be held in mid-April or May next year.  “Once Covid vaccine is ready, it will be provided to all people of the state free of cost,” said Palaniswami.

However, this has not gone down well with the people. They have questioned through social media posts why the vaccine against the deadly disease should be made available free of cost only in poll bound states and not across the country. They demanded that Covid vaccine should be made available free of cost in all states.

However, Covid vaccine is yet to be developed. Some Indian companies, in collaboration with international vaccine manufacturers, are in second or third trial stages of the vaccine while some in advanced stages. The union government is yet to announce the date of launch of the vaccine but the issue has got the attention in the poll-bound states.