THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will fly to United States of America again for follow-up treatment. He has sought permission from foreign affairs ministry. He will be treated at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA. He will leave on Saturday. He will undergo the treatment from April 23 to mid of May. It is not clear who all will accompany him.

His wife Kamala had accompanied him earlier. Who will lead the cabinet will be known in the coming days. This is the third time the chief minister is flying to US for treatment. He was first treated at the Mayo Clinic from January 11 to 26 in 2018.

Meantime, as the chief minister's political secretary Puthalath Dinesh was elected to the CPM state committee, there were indications that former Kannur district secretary P Sasi would replace him. P Sasi has the experience of working as the political secretary when E K Nayanar was the chief minister.

The government had sanctioned Rs 29,82,039 for the treatment of the chief minister so far. However, the public administration (accounts) department quashed the order as it was a factual error that the order was in the application submitted by the chief minister. The amount will be released as soon as the renewed order is issued.