Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan left for America for medical treatment in the early hours of Sunday. The Chief Minister took a 4.30 am Dubai-bound flight from Thiruvananthapuram airport. From Dubai, he will be leaving to New York to undergo treatment at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. His wife, Kamala, is accompanying him.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s office confirmed the news to TNM. However, the added, “As of now, we cannot tell you how many days he will be abroad. That will depend on the check-ups and the advice given by the doctors.” Other reports say that the Chief Minister is likely to be in New York for three weeks.

The nature of his ailment has not been disclosed. The general administration (political) department of the state government had earlier said that financial sanction has been given for the CM's foreign visit.

This means that the government will bear the expenses for the visit. In March this year, Pinarayi was admitted to the Apollo Hospital Chennai, though his office maintained that it was a regular check up.

The treatment was earlier scheduled for August – Pinarayi Vijayan was supposed to be in the US between August 19 to September 6. However, he decided to stay back in Kerala due to the unprecedented floods in the state.

While he is away, the responsibility of receiving funds to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund is entrusted with Minister for Industries EP Jayarajan. Jayarajan will also chair the cabinet meetings till the CM returns.

Pinarayi Vijayan had been constantly meeting media persons ever since the deluge unleashed havoc in the state. On Friday, he held a press conference to elaborate on the mission to mobilise Keralites across the globe to rebuild Kerala.