Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda yesterday accused former IPS officer and adviser to the Home Minister Kempaiah of misusing government machinery in the elections.

Gowda was speaking after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat, who is on a visit to the city to review preparedness for the Assembly elections.

Gowda expressed doubts over free and fair elections being held in the State. He said he had brought this to the notice of the CEC. “I have explained to the CEC about how employees of Chief Minister’s office are collecting money for the election and transporting cash in Police jeeps. This is clear misuse of official machinery in the Home Department. Kempaiah is acting as the super Home Minister. Though he has vacated his office in Vikasa Soudha, Kempaiah continues to work from several places,’’ Gowda said.

The former PM has submitted a complaint to the CEC with six issues. He said all the issues pertain to violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The issues include 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 Siddharamaiah, however, refuted the allegations and said he was not aware of any election-related irregularities nor had he misused officials. Responding to queries by presspersons on Gowda’s allegations of misuse of the SState machineryand use of money power by the Congress, Siddharamaiah ridiculed the JD(S) leader and said, “Gowda has more experience in politics than me. He is saying what he has done in the past.”