BENGALURU, April 2 -- Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asked voters in Davanagere South to support the Congress in the April 9 by-election, framing the contest as a choice between his government's welfare measures and what he described as misinformation by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Campaigning across villages including Naganur, Turchaghatta and Tetugughatta, he called for a consolidation of votes in favour of the Congress candidate, Samarth Shamanur, and cautioned against backing independents. He said such votes could indirectly benefit the BJP.

"Congress is a party that protects the minority community. No one should vote for independents. If minorities vote for independents, it will benefit BJP. The responsibility of winning ...