New Delhi: In a big but expected move, former finance minister Arun Jaitley has requested the Prime Minister to keep him out of the Union cabinet in the new Modi government. 

On Wednesday, he wrote a letter saying that his health condition is the reason he took the decision.

Also read: Arun Jaitley says Congress’s first family an 'albatross around party’s neck'

"The new Government would be sworn in tomorrow. 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,” wrote Jaitley. 

The former finance minister also wrote, "I would obviously have a lot of time at my disposal to undertake any work informally to support the Government or the Party."

Jaitley has been unwell for quite some time and has undergone a few surgeries. In fact, he was away from the finance ministry and Piyush Goyal, who was the railways and coal minister, looked after the high profile portfolio for a brief time.

Now, with Jaitley refusing to accept any ministry, the big question is who will fill in Jaitley's shoe?