Catching more attention to the election scenario at Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto has promised free Covid vaccination to all. It seems great. Yes, the ruling BJP's "free coronavirus vaccination for all" promise in Bihar ahead of next week's election has become controversial with questions raised about the use of a vaccine for a political agenda.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announcing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the Bihar election - "As soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is available for production at a mass scale, each and every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto," There is a global race to produce a Covid-19 vaccine and trials are on in many countries, including India. This is the first time that a vaccine, especially one that is work in progress, is a part of any election manifesto. “What about non-BJP ruled states? Indians who did not vote BJP will not get free Covid vaccine?" It was tweeted Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raising a question that many flagged on social media.

BJP's Bihar Chief Sanjay Jaiswal said of the 19 lakh employmens listed in the manifesto, only four lakh - three lakh teachers and one lakh in health sector - are in the government sector. The rest are linked to promises to make Bihar an "IT hub" and to create an agriculture hub in the state.

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