EC sacks home ministry advisor Kempaiah after Deve Gowda’s complaint

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, April 6, 2018: The Election Commission has sacked Home Ministry Advisor Kempaiah after a complaint by JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda alleging that that he was using police vehicles to transport money for the Karnataka Assembly election. Kempaiah is a 1981 batch retired IPS officer.

The Chief Election Officer of Karnataka Sanjay Kumar wrote to the Election Commission of India stating that CM Siddaramaiah’s close associate and political advisor to the Home Minister - Kempaiah, violated the model code of conduct by continuing to perform his duties.

When Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat was on a visit to Bengaluru to review preparedness for the Assembly elections, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda had complained to CEC accusing Kempaiah of misusing government machinery in the elections.

Also, incumbent MLA of Chamundeshwari constituency and JD(S) leader GT Devegowda had written to the Election Commission, asking him to remove Kempaiah, as he was a "hindrance to holding free and fair Assembly polls". He had also alleged that CM Siddharamaiah and Kempaiah were using the police to threaten JD(S) workers.