SeniorBJP leader and Finance Minister of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's firstcabinet, Arun Jaitley on Wednesday opted out of PM Modi's new cabinet ahead ofModi's second term in office. Jaitley addressed a letter to the PM and askedhim not to give him any responsibility due to health reasons.

"I amwriting to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonabletime for myself, my treatment and my health and, therefore, not be a part ofany responsibility, for the present, in the new government," Jaitley wrote,adding, "It was a great honour and a learning experience for me to have been apart of the Government led by you for the past five years."

Notably,the 66-year-old BJP leader was not even seen at the victory celebrations at theBJP headquarters on May 23.PM Narendra Modi along with his cabinet will be sworn-inat Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday evening.