Mumbai: In poll mode, BJP goes on vaccine overdrive

Politicians are cashing in on the over 1 lakh vaccinations that was being done in the city from Monday to Wednesday. Representation pic

With an eye on the upcoming civic elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members have been wooing citizens by organising vaccination camps privately. Its members of Parliament and members of the legislative assembly have been coordinating with citizens and private hospitals to organise these camps in housing societies. In some cases the vaccination drives are being held for slum dwellers. They are also helping the underprivileged get registered in CoWIN.

With over a lakh vaccinations administered in a day in the city, politicians are cashing in on this. The state has been struggling to get vaccine doses, but for such camps and drives, they are being procured through private hospitals. This is being done to make a statement to the state government that just complaining will not help, revealed sources.

Free drives being held

Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha has involved citizens to participate in a vaccination drive with people donating cheques for the procurement of vaccines. Kotecha is also conducting free vaccination drives for slum dwellers where over 300 doses have been given. According to his tweet, "We held two camps for residents of IndiraNagar-1 & Amarnagar slums #Mulund. Today we achieved the milestone of vaccinating 1,000 citizens of our FreeVaccinationInSlums drive."

Registering those not vaccinated

BJP corporator from Andheri west, DN Nagar, Sudha Singh, has conducted camps outside the slums in her constituency, to identify those who have not been vaccinated and has been registering such citizens on Co Win.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam who conducted drives in various societies in Ghatkopar said, "All the MLAs and MPs are trying to help the citizens get vaccinated and that is why there are so many drives being carried out in the city by them."

Shiv Sena Minister Aaditya Thackeray has been closely involved in various activities taking place in Worli related to vaccination centers' inaugurations. He is also present at drives by people, conducted for slum dwellers or for daily wage earners.