Bengaluru, July 12 -- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly made it clear to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that there is 'no question' of handing over power to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

In a late-night meeting after being unable to secure an appointment with Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah is said to have conveyed his firm stance and outlined reasons why Shivakumar should not be elevated to the Chief Minister's post.

"I am not clinging to power. I remain committed to the decision of the high command. If needed, let him parade the MLAs," Siddaramaiah is believed to have said, adding that if he were to step down, the leadership should go to someone from a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or backward community.

He fur...