"All Ministers in the cabinet have been looting through officials to send the funds for Bihar polls, officials have been asked to collect money. After gathering money from transfers, now it is being done in the name of renewals. All Ministers are collecting money for the Bihar polls, it has become their main business," he told reporters in Shivamogga.

Jagadish Shettar, a former Chief Minister, had claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently hosted a dinner meeting for his cabinet colleagues recently in connection with the Bihar polls.

"The CM had called each Minister separately during the dinner and had discussed with them, and depending upon the departments the Ministers hold and their strength and capacity, targets were fixed for them to collect money, to send it for Bihar polls," he alleged.

Noting that Karnataka is a key resource base for the Congress in the entire country, Shettar said the state government acts as an "ATM" for that party's high command.

"Why is corruption rampant? Why has commission increased? When asked, officials say that the money has to be sent to Bihar..." he added.

Bihar polls will be held over two phases on November 6 and 11.

The votes will be counted on November 14.