Leaving a committee of three senior cabinet Ministers in-charge of the coastal State’s administrative affairs and with a promise of conducting cabinet meetings via video conference, Goa’s ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday afternoon, left for Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for further treatment.

The development comes in wake reports of the Chief Minister’s failing health concerns, on account of which Parrikar has been admitted to hospitals in Mumbai and Goa for more than two weeks and has spent the better part of last week recuperating at his private residence.

The Congress has lashed out at the decision of the Chief Minister, to allow the State to be run a committee of three senior ministers, accusing Parrikar of “deserting” the State and running the State administration at his whim and fancy, in violation of business rules.

Earlier on Monday, on a day of swift developments, Parrikar, who has been recuperating at his private residence for the last several days, conducted a series of meetings with cabinet colleagues, top bureaucrats and police officials, informing them about his absence due to medical reasons and spelling out the protocol to be followed in his absence, including forming a committee of three Ministers, who are expected to take administrative decisions.

“The three-member team will have the power to sanction works up to Rs 5 crore, while each individual minister has been empowered to sanction work contracts up to the tune of Rs 50 lakh each,” Arts and Culture Minister Govind Gawde told reporters after meeting the Chief Minister at the latter’s residence.

The three member team includes members of the ruling coalition alliance, namely Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai (Goa Forward) and Law Minister Francis D’Souza (BJP).

Another cabinet Minister speaking on the condition of anonymity said that the Chief Minister would continue to conduct cabinet meetings via video conference.

Even as the meetings were underway, the Chief Minister Office in a statement said that Parrikar would be heading for Mumbai on Monday and would possibly head abroad for further treatment if prescribed.

“Today, the Chief Minister is travelling to Mumbai for further medical check-up, and based on his doctor’s advice, may travel overseas for further treatment,” the statement said.

Parrikar left for Mumbai on Monday afternoon by a special flight. Sources said that the Chief Minister’s family was already in talks with a health facility in the United States of America, where he could be shifted for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Congress launched an attack on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accusing him of ruling the state by whim and deserting the interests of the State.

“We are going to have a State ruled by three Chief Ministers at a given time. Imagine the chaos. This is a clear violation of business rules. We wish him well in his medical treatment and he has deserted Goa,” Congress State president Shantaram Naik told a press conference in Panaji.

Naik also accused the Chief Minister, of not having enough faith in his cabinet colleagues, which he said was the reason why Parrikar did not appoint a stand-in Chief Minister.

“Goa is hostage to the whims of one individual. Things are very precarious. CM should come out with a clear statement on his health. It will be helpful for the state of Goa. The current arrangement is unconstitutional,” Naik also said.

Parrikar was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15, where he was diagnosed for “mild pancreatitis”, according to the CMO.

Soon after his return to Goa on February 22, when he also delivered a short budget speech in the state legislative assembly, Parrikar was admitted to the Goa Medical College near Panaji, after he complained of dehydration and low blood pressure, according to his office. After his discharge last week, he was recuperating at his private residence.