Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to 11 chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states seeking a united effort to press the Centre to procure Covid-19 vaccines and ensure free universal vaccination.

“Wrote to 11 CMs in the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. Quite unfortunate that Centre absolves itself of its duty to procure vaccines, ensure free universal vaccination. United effort to jointly pursue our genuine demand is the need of the hour, so that Centre acts immediately,” Vijayan tweeted.

In his letter, the chief minister said statements to the effect that the responsibility to provide vaccine entirely fell within the realm of the states defied the very basis of the cooperative federal system.

“The need of the hour is a united effort from our side to put forth the genuine demand that the Centre should procure vaccine needed by the states and distribute them free of cost. This will be more cost-effective as well,” Vijayan said in the letter.

“When the nation is passing through the second surge, it is quite unfortunate that there appears to be an attempt by the Centre to absolve itself of its bounden duty to provide adequate supply of vaccine to the states.”