After attending a function at a private hospital here, Rao had left for Udhagamandalam at Ooty in the afternoon.
As per the schedule, he was to stay at Ooty tonight and tomorrow, and attend the convocation of Bharathiar University here on February 7.
However, the developments in ruling AIADMK reportedly made Rao to consider returning to Chennai, but police sources said he is leaving for New Delhi by the 7:30 PM flight from here.
Officially it was said that Rao is going to Delhi to attend a wedding in Union Minister Prakash Javadekar's family.