Mysuru: Forest Minister, R Shankar, who has been under pressure to join the Congress, revealed here on Friday that he was likely to do so soon.
Mr Shankar was speaking to reporters after joining the mahouts and kawadis of the Dasara elephants for breakfast in the courtyard of the Mysuru Palace. "I am looking for a right time to join the Congress. I am not aware of any possibility of a change in my portfolio. The seniors in the party will take a call on this," he added.
Having contested the May Assembly poll on a Karnataka Pragnavantha Janatha Party ticket, Mr Shankar won from the Ranebennur constituency and opted to support the coalition government in the state. He defeated a political heavyweifght, former Assembly speaker and Congress leader K.B. Koliwad.
There has been talk of late, however, that he could be removed from the Cabinet to make way for a new face during the impending Cabinet expansion and this appears to have put pressure on him to join the Congress. Responding to a question on the rumours, the Minister said, "I am joining the Congress party soon to avoid such confusion."
