By: Express News ServiceBengaluru | Updated: October 20, 2025 07:19 PM IST 2 min readResponding to media queries, Siddaramaiah said, “We have not paid even five paisa to elections held in any state ever. We are not giving to Bihar either." (File Photo)In the wake of allegations by BJP MP B Y Raghavendra that Congress ministers from Karnataka are extorting money from officials to fund the party for polls in Bihar, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar Monday slammed the MP and sought evidence for his claims.Responding to media queries, Siddaramaiah said, “We have not paid even five paisa to elections held in any state ever. We are not giving to Bihar either.”Such activities, the CM said, might have taken place during the BJP rule. “He might be blaming us for what they did,” he added.Shivakumar advised Raghavendra to avoid being part of the list of leaders with ‘hit and run’ tendencies. “If he has any evidence, let him release it and then make allegations. Let him not be synonymous with lies. Raghavendra should not become like other leaders who hit and run,” he said.Also Read | Karnataka seat ‘vote chori’: SIT finds ‘vital leads’ from properties linked to losing BJP candidateThe BJP MP from Shivamogga made the allegations Sunday and alleged that the state government was collecting money from officials to extend the tenure in their posts. The collected amount is sent to Bihar for funding elections, he had claimed.Meanwhile, addressing a news conference, BJP MP and former CM Jagadish Shettar claimed that the recent dinner party hosted by Siddaramaiah was meant to mobilise funds for Bihar polls. He alleged that the CM held one to one interactions with ministers in his Cabinet and fixed them a target to collect funds for the upcoming polls.He accused the Karnataka government of turning into an “ATM for the Congress high command”.Story continues below this adBihar polls are scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11, and counting will be held on November 14.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:B Y RaghavendraKarnataka congress