New Delhi: Accusing the Congress of "misusing" state machinery in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chattisgarh where Assembly elections are slated later in 2003, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 2 said it would bring this "major crime" to the notice of the Election Commission.

"We consider this action by the Congress as misuse of state machinery and it is a major crime. We would draw the attention of the Election Commission to this," party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.

In Chattisgarh, he said Chief Minister Ajit Jogi had got his "photograph embossed" on 25 lakh school bags of the 40 lakh that were distributed to school children under the Central scheme for children's education. These bags also had Congress slogans on them, Naqvi alleged.

The Central funds for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awas Yojana and uplift of Adivasis were being "used" by the Madhya Pradesh government to "save itself from drowning". "These were being diverted towards payment of salaries of state government employees and for road improvement," he said.

In Delhi, a state government function was "converted" into a party function at Bawana stadium, Naqvi claimed.

Alleging that funds given for drought relief in Rajasthan had been diverted for road construction, he said now the Congress president is going around the country accusing the Centre of discrimination.

"I squarely blame the Congress for misusing funds. The party has no right to accuse the Centre but it should on the other hand pull up its state governments," he said.

PTI