Chandigarh, Jan 21 (IANS): Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil's five-year term ended Wednesday.

Patil, a former union home minister, joined here as governor Jan 22, 2010. He was also the administrator of the union territory of Chandigarh.

He was given a warm send-off by staff and officers of the Punjab Raj Bhawan Wednesday.

Patil's tenure remained largely non-controversial but lacklustre, especially in the context of Chandigarh.

A few development projects for the city which had run into controversy before Patil joined here, were scrapped during his tenure. The city administration, dominated by bureaucrats in the absence of a democratic set-up here, under him lacked new initiatives.

Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki will hold additional charge of Punjab governor till the central government appoints a new full-time governor for Punjab.

The names doing rounds include senior Delhi BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra and union Minister Najma Heptullla.