Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami surprised many on Thursday by saying that the Covid-19 vaccine would be administered to all people in Tamilnadu at government expense.
The Chief Minister’s announcement came hours after the BJP made free vaccine as poll promise in Bihar. “If it is made as a promise during election time, it would be viewed as a political stunt. Moreover, the CM got a credible information that the DMK was planning to announce it in its manifesto. So, he went ahead with the announcement and scored brownie points,” sources said.
Speaking to reporters in Pudukottai, he said, “People are apprehensive of contracting the novel coronavirus. When a vaccine is available, it will be administered to all free of cost.”
The Chief Minister however said the spread of the novel coronavirus was on the decline in the State, owing to intense measures taken by the government.
Compared to the neighbouring Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the spread of the infection had been brought down in Tamilnadu, he added.