Swamy's letter considered by Kalam for Govt formation in 2004

New Delhi, May 3: A letter from Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy was among the other factors "on the basis of" which the then President A P J Abdul Kalam had taken a decision to invite Manmohan Singh to form the government at centre in 2004.

The President's Secretariat has refused to give a copy of Swamy's letter saying the disclosure would be a breach of confidentiality and fiduciary relationship and therefore attracts section 8(1)(e) of RTI Act. "Letter written by Dr Subramanian Swamy, President, Janata Party to the President was interalia, a communication sent in confidence by him to the President, based on which President exercised his/her discretion to appoint the Prime Minister under Article 75," the Secretariat said in an RTI reply to activist Subhash Agrawal.

In a question seeking copies of correspondence and letters from political parties or individuals for staking claim to form the government before Manmohan Singh was invited in 2004, the secretariat said, "as per record no political party staked claim to form the Government."

"No records are available in this regard," the secretariat said to a question whether it was true that certain individuals, political parties or anyone else had objected against some particular person being invited to form the government in 2004.

On the question seeking copies of any such letter wherein such objections were raised against any individual, the secretariat said there were none available.

PTI