Opposition questions BJP's free Covid vaccine promise in Bihar

In Bihar , BJP and JDU  released their menifetos. BJP released it  with a promise of a free coronavirus vaccine  for every household and an assurance of 19 lakh jobs over the next five years, if the party is elected to power.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, after releasing the BJP manifesto for Bihar election, said, "As soon as a coronavirus vaccine will be available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto."

JD(U) state president Bashistha Narain Singh released the  manifesto of the ruling JDU, Singh said the party has taken the resolve to ensure progress of the state’s youth, finding financial solutions and empowering the youth and women of Bihar. He also announced the second iteration of “saat nishchay (7 promises)” scheme, and assured that these too will be fulfilled. The JD(U) leader also attacked Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav for saying he will give employment to 10 lakh people if his party wins the election. Singh said that JD(U) and its leader Nitish Kumar do not make false promises. “Whatever we promise, we deliver.”“Inexperienced leaders make such promises. He should tell us how will he arrange Rs 58,000 crore needed for 10 lakh jobs? People don’t understand the financial situation of Bihar and make such promises,” Singh was quoted.

Oppositon parties critised BJP's menifesto. As soon as a free coronavirus vaccine was announced the Opposition starting taking digs, raising eyebrows and throwing questions at the ruling party over the promise. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said the saffron party was using the disease for politics and "selling the fear of death". Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah made a scathing attack on the BJP's announcement of free vaccination in Bihar as a poll promise ahead of the Bihar election 2020, saying it "shamefully exploits coronavirus fears". He also asked if the BJP would be paying for the coronavirus vaccine, which it promised to provide for free to people in Bihar, from the party treasury. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP is deriding the people of Bihar.

The grand alliance has already released its manifesto. The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), led by Chirag Paswan, released its manifesto on Wednesday in Patna.On the lines of BJP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami said a vaccine will be distributed free of charge in his state as well. In TN assembly elections are due next year.