Gowda accuses Congress of misusing govt. machinery

Accusing the Congress of misusing government machinery, including effecting transfer of officials, Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday expressed his doubts over transparent conduct of the Assembly elections in the State, during his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat here on Thursday.

Speaking to presspersons after meeting Mr. Rawat and Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar, Mr. Gowda said, “I brought to the notice of the Election Commission the behaviour of some officials. The election process should be transparent and I have expressed my doubts about it.”

Referring to developments in the Home Department, he said honest officers had been changed. “Though (adviser to the Home Minister) Kempaiah’s office has been closed in the Vikasa Soudha, it has been shifted elsewhere. I have brought this as well as his interference in the department to the Election Commission’s notice,” he added.

Incidentally, the JD(S) had lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer on Wednesday, and some of these issues had been raised in that complaint too.

In all, Mr. Gowda raised six issues in his memorandum, including transfer of officials and alleged misuse of official machinery. “The government has transferred officials whom they want in Ramanagaram, Hassan, Mandya, and Mysuru region. Police vehicles are being used to transport money,” he alleged.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refuted the allegations and said he was not aware of any election-related irregularities nor had he misused officials.

Responding to queries by persspersons on Mr. Gowda’s allegations of misuse of the State machinery and use of money power by the Congress, Mr. Siddaramaiah ridiculed the JD(S) leader and said, “Mr. Gowda has more experience in politics than me. He is saying what he has done in the past.”