Bhopal, October 22: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday, announced┬аa vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, once developed, will be distributed free of charge in his state. Shivraj Singh Chouhan's announcement came hours after the BJP promised free vaccine for the people of Bihar in its election manifesto.┬аFree COVID-19 Vaccine Will be Given to Everyone in State as Soon as Vaccine is Found, Says Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami.

"My fellow citizens, we took several effective steps to protect people from COVID-19. Today, it is completely under control. The work of developing a vaccine for coronavirus is in full speed in India. Once developed, the vaccine will be provided to every person in Madhya Pradesh free of cost," Chouhan said in a tweet. Earlier today, the BJP in its┬аelection manifesto or 'Sankalp Patra' for poll-bound Bihar promised "free coronavirus vaccination for all".

Free COVID-19 Vaccine For All in Madhya Pradesh, Announces CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan:

"As soon as a Covid-19 vaccine is 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," BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while releasing the manifesto.┬аThe party also promised to create as many as 19 lakh jobs for the youth of Bihar.

Here it may be noted that 28 assembly seats are going to bye-elections in Madhya Pradesh on November 3.┬аThe outcome of the Madhya Pradesh assembly bye-elections will either strengthen Chouhan-led┬аBJP government's position in the 230-member House or pave way for the Kamal Nath-led Congress's return in the state.┬аMadhya Pradesh Assembly Bye-Elections 2020: Why Bypolls on 28 Seats Matter For Shivraj Singh Chouhan-Led BJP And Kamal Nath's Congress.

Soon after the BJP announced free vaccine in Bihar,┬аTamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami said a vaccine will be distributed free of charge in his state as well.┬а"Once COVID-19 vaccine is ready, it will be provided to all people of the state free of cost," announced Palaniswami, whose state is due for election next year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2020 08:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).