Arun Jaitley, former Finance Minister and a BJP veteran, won’t become a part of PM Modi’s Cabinet. He wrote a letter to Narendra Modi, citing the reason for his decision.
The letter, released by Mr. Jaitley on social media, makes it clear that his health requires his full attention.
The new Council of Ministers is scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday evening.
Due to his ill health, Mr. Jaitley could not present the last budget — the honours was done by caretaker Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.
Mr. Jaitley was absent at the celebrations held at the party headquarters in New Delhi on May 23 when the results of the 17th general election were out, and as well as at the National Democratic Alliance’s parliamentary party meet on May 25.
Apart from handling the Finance and the Corporate Affairs Ministries, Mr. Jaitley had, at various stages in the last five years, handled Defence and Information and Broadcasting portfolios as well. While no word is out on who would get the Finance portfolio now, Mr. Goyal appears to be the front runner for the post as of now.
Mr. Jaitley is the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha.
