Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday (27 April), expressed satisfaction with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s “professional and transparent handling of the pandemic” reports Times of India.

“She was satisfied that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra is transparently handling the COVID situation. She took information about the measures taken and expressed satisfaction about the efforts of the State government,” senior party leader and State Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat told the reporters.

Thorat said she was keen on the availability of emergency medicines and oxygen for needy patients.

“I said the state government is trying its level best to provide best available treatment to Covid-19 patients across the state,’’ Thorat added.

Days after Nationalist Congress Party leader and Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik said the government would provide free vaccination to those in the age group of 18 to 45, the government seems to be reconsidering the decision.

As per the report, many in the state government believe that those capable of paying should be made to pay for the vaccine.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi though have said vaccination should be free.

If those aged 18-45 are to be vaccinated free, it will cost the state nearly Rs 4,800 crore.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale has written to the Chief Minister asking him to use fixed deposits of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) worth Rs 75,000 crore for the free vaccination in the state.

Maharashtra reported 66,358 new cases, 895 deaths and 67,752 discharges; total case tally rises to 44,10,085 on 27 April.