Opposition slams BJP over free COVID-19 vaccine promise in Bihar manifesto

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on October 22 accused the BJP of politicising public health by promising free COVID-19 vaccine in its manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Mr. Baghel also said the poll promise implies that citizens of the States where elections are not being held will have to pay for the vaccine. “NDA manifesto says free vaccine for Biharis. This is a poll promise BJP and JDU have made. Note: A Manifesto is a list of promises to be delivered If the govt comes to power then they are politicising health of citizens with #VaccineElectionism,” Mr. Baghel tweeted.

With this poll promise @bjp4india has implied that the citizens of other non election states will have to pay for the vaccine,” the Chief Minister said in another tweet.Chhattisgarh Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo also slammed the BJP for its poll promise and demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) take cognisance of the matter. “Free Covid vaccine is a right of every citizen of my country. Surprised to see this being pitched as a poll promise by BJP in Bihar,” the Minister tweeted. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on October 22 released the BJP’s manifesto for the Bihar Assembly polls with a slew of promises, including free COVID-19 vaccine once it has been cleared by the ICMR. Slamming the BJP for promising free COVID-19 vaccine in their poll manifesto for Bihar assembly elections, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has asked if money for the vaccines will be paid from the party's (BJP) treasury. 

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Omar Abdullah asked if the government is paying for the vaccines of the people of Bihar then how can they ask for money from the people of other states. Criticising BJP "populism", the former CM of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said that the party os shamefully exploiting COVID fears. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the free coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine promise mentioned in its manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly election. The Congress spokesperson said that the BJP is deriding the people of Bihar.

Will @BJP4India be paying for these vaccines from the party treasury? If it’s coming from the government treasury then how can Bihar get free vaccines while the rest of the country has to pay? There is so much wrong with this blatant populism that shamefully exploits COVID fears. https://t.co/ek796weG84

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 22, 2020

The Bihar Assembly Elections will be held in three phases - on October 28, November 3 and November 7 - and counting of votes will be held on November 10. Nitish Kumar is seeking reelection and is the CM face for the NDA. Mahagathbandhan has chosen Tejashwi Yadav as their CM face. The BJP is contesting on a seat-sharing formula of 121-122 seats with the JDU and Mukesh Sahni of Vikasheel Insaan party and Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM(S) is contesting on BJP's share. Mahagathbandhan comprising of Congress and three left parties have are contesting on seat-sharing formula of 144-70-29 seats respectively.