NEW DELHI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- India's Finance Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley on Wednesday requested Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi not to include him in the Union Council of Ministers to be sworn-in on Thursday in New Delhi.
In a letter written to Modi, he said that he was unable to take any responsibility in the new government due to "health reasons."
"During the last 18 months, I have had some serious health challenges. My doctors have enabled to emerge out of most of them. I would in the future for some time like to keep away from any responsibility. This will enable me to concentrate on my treatment and health," he stated in the letter.
Jaitley, however, expressed his readiness to undertake any work informally to support the government or the BJP.
Modi is slated to take the oath of office and secrecy for his second consecutive term on May 30.
