BENGALURU, April 7 -- Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday used the Davanagere South by-election campaign to question the continued prominence of the Deve Gowda family in politics, arguing that electoral outcomes should carry greater weight than lineage.

He added that participation in public life was legitimate when it reflected people's support, but added that persisting with family-based politics despite repeated electoral setbacks raises larger questions.

"JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda's two sons, daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren are in politics. No one among the people wanted the son of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy to contest the Channapatna by-election. They have not learned a lesson even after being rejected by the voters,...