Ending all speculations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he does not want to be a minister in the new BJP government due to health reasons.
In the four-paragraph letter, Jaitley said he had orally informed Modi about his desire not to be a part of the new BJP government to enable him to concentrate on treatment and health.
"I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health, and therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new government," he wrote.
Speculations were rife that Jaitley would not be part of the new government due to health issues. Jaitley has not been attending office for about three weeks now.
Early this year, Jaitley was rushed to the US in a jiffy amid preparations for the interim budget 2019. The interim budget 2019 was eventually presented by his colleague and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal who was given the charge of the finance ministry in the absence of Jaitley.
In April last year, Jaitley had stopped attending office due to his kidney ailment and was back in North Block—the seat of Finance Ministry—on August 23, 2018. Even then, Goyal had manned the Ministry for about 100 days.
Jaitley in September 2014 underwent bariatric surgery to treat weight gain that he suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition.
(With PTI inputs)