Bangalore : Former Union minister O Rajagopal is likely to be named the new governor of Karnataka.

Rajagopal’s name figures among the seven cleared by the Modi government and sent to the President, said official sources on Friday. An announcement in this regard is expected to be made before the Budget Session of Parliament begins on Monday.

The previous Governor H R Bhardwaj completed his term on June 28. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah is holding additional charge of Karnataka till the appointment of a new governor. Rajagopal, 84, was founder president of the BJP’s Kerala unit. He was also a minister of state in the Vajpayee government, handling several portfolios like railways, defence production, parliamentary affairs and law and justice.

Rajagopal lost the recent Lok Sabha poll against former Union minister Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram.