In a departure from tradition, the Prime Minister’s office has turned down former PM Manmohan Singh’s repeated requests for retaining his 14-member staff for the smooth functioning of his office. Singh's staff was cut down to five -- two personal assistants, one Lower Division Clerk, and two peons -- on May 26, 2019, four days before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government was sworn in at the Centre.