The Governor of Karnataka, H R Bharadwaj sprung a surprise today when he said that he would immediately sign the papers if the government proposed the name of Justice Santhosh Hegde for the post of Lokayukta.

Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa says that speaking at a function today at Bangalore, the governor said that he would have no problem in agreeing to the candidature of Justice Hegde if the government decided to appoint him as Lokayukta once again.

However he also added that he would also have no problem in approving any other name provided the person was honest and a man of integrity. The government of Karnataka is however in no mood to re appoint Justice Hegde as the Lokayukta.

The name of Justice Bannur Math which was suggested by the government was rejected by the governor.

After this the post of Lokayukta has remained vacant ever since and it has also raised a debate as to whether the government wants to close down the Lokayukta office.