In a move that will raise hopes of BJP stalwarts who did not find place in the council of ministers, the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) has sought details of the tenures of at least eight governors who are due to retire by the year-end. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which also acts as advisor to the President on the appointment of governors, is learnt to have submitted the list of these governors to the PMO.

While choosing his council of ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left out party veterans who were above the age of 75. Some of them are likely to be rehabilitated in Raj Bhawans ? the names of Murli Manohar Joshi, Lalji Tandon, Kesri Nath Tripathi, V K Malhotra, Kalyan Singh, Shanta Kumar and B C Khanduri are doing the rounds.

While the government is unlikely to replace governors who will be completing their terms in the next few months, some recent appointments may be reviewed.

Sources said Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal, who has had run-ins with Modi when he was Chief Minister, is in the list sent by the MHA. She is to retire by November this year. The list also includes Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj who will complete his term by the end of the month.

Last year, the UPA-II government extended the term of Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra. There is no clarity whether the regime change at the Centre will have any bearing on his continuance.

Officials familiar with the process have been asked to draw a list of probables and verify before the names are recommended to the President.

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, who completes five years in office next month, is also in the MHA list. ?With Assembly elections in Haryana not far away, the government will try to finalise the name of the Governor as early as possible,? the sources said.

Another state which finds mention in the list is Uttar Pradesh where former police officer B L Joshi completes his term next month. The new state of Telangana has E S L Narasimhan as its first governor. He was earlier the Governor of undivided Andhra Pradesh. He is due to complete his term by December.

Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt too is in the list sent to the PMO. He completes his term in January 2015. Assam Governor J B Patnaik, who assumed office in December 2009, and Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, who took charge in January 2010, also figure in the list.