THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s announcement of free vaccine is part of government's COVID defence activities.

The state government is taking effective action in the treatment of the virus. COVID vaccine is also part of the treatment. It is natural to make opinions or statements about COVID vaccine at the press conference explaining things on the virus. Vijayaraghavan termed as childish the argument of UDF convenor M M Hassan that there are other motives in it.

The UDF had lodged a complaint to the election commission against the chief minister’s announcement of distributing COVID vaccine free in the state. Hassan had stated that the announcement of the vaccine on the previous day of polling is violation of election code of conduct. Announcing this in Kannur now is to influence the voters, alleged Hassan.

Vijayaraghavan came forward rejecting these arguments. The chief minister spoke about the left front and this government’s stand on the issues that cropped up during election time. This is quite natural at the last phase of campaigning. The chief minister talks responsibly and is accurate in everything, he said.