Bengaluru | The Karnataka State Contractors' Association has appealed to the people to cast their vote in accordance with their conscience, while reminding them that corruption has reached frightening levels in the state that votes on Wednesday.

The KSCA President D Kempanna had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that contractors had to shell out 40 per cent commission in public projects, a charge which the Congress had made it a key campaign issue to target the ruling BJP in Karnataka.

On Tuesday, Kempanna said corruption has reached frightening levels in the state.

"The 40% commission in public projects has already claimed the lives of several contractors; the public too is forced to live with defective, dangerous and life-threatening infrastructure", he said.

Kempanna said democracy works when people cast their vote in accordance with their conscience. "Corruption deeply hurts our collective conscience", he added.

Sharing the letter, which Kempanna confirmed was written by him, on its Twitter handle, Congress in Karnataka said, “This letter from the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA), urging people to vote wisely, is proof of how the corrupt 40% commission Sarkara has ruined the state of Karnataka.”