The government is expected to announce Governors for five states, including Punjab, this week that could see two senior Congress leaders who did not make it to the Union Cabinet being rehabilitated in gubernatorial offices.
Arjun Singh, former human resource development minister and Shivraj Patil, former home minister, are among those whose names are being considered.
“We are awaiting a decision… everyone has thrown in their hats,” a government official said on Tuesday.
Former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah — who spent nearly a decade playing a negotiator with Naga insurgents — is also being considered.
Former law minister HR Bharadwaj had been accommodated in Karnataka as part of the previous reshuffle in Raj Bhavans.
Five states have governors whose five-year term has come to an end.
Punjab Governor General (retd) SF Rodrigues’s normal term of five years ended on Monday. This list includes Rameshwar Thakur in Madhya Pradesh, Dr Shilendra Singh Sidhu in Goa and SC Jamir in Maharashtra who holds additional charge for Gujarat.
They can, however, be allowed to continue beyond the term as in case of the Tripura governor, DN Sahaya, continues despite completing his term in October 2005.
{{/usCountry}}They can, however, be allowed to continue beyond the term as in case of the Tripura governor, DN Sahaya, continues despite completing his term in October 2005.
{{/usCountry}}Rodrigues — who has been in and out of controversies over the past year — however, would not be as lucky.
“His term has ended. He will be going soon,” a home ministry official said.