TVK regime’s experiment of having two advisers to CM alongside Chief Secretary giving mixed vibes to T.N.’s bureaucratic circles

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led regime’s experiment of co-habitation in administration — two Advisers to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay alongside Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar — is creating mixed vibes in official circles.

It is not for the first time that the State government has appointed Advisers. At different points of time, since 1989, various regimes had Advisers to Chief Ministers, starting from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). But, Tamil Nadu’s experiences were not pleasant all the time. Invariably, differences have cropped up between Advisers and Chief Secretaries.

In late January 1989, former Finance Secretary S. Guhan, who had a stint with the Willy Brandt Commission, was made Adviser to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He remained in the post till June 1990, when he was made a Member of the State Planning Commission, a decision taken by Karunanidhi himself after the then Chief Secretary M.M. Rajendran, according to his memoirs published in 2020, had twice complained to the Chief Minister about Guhan’s “interference.” In May 1998, the outgoing Chief Secretary K.A. Nambiar was offered the post, but he did not take up the assignment.

In this 1989 picture, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (centre) is seen meeting then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at Secretariat. S. Guhan, Adviser to the Chief Minister is also seen in the picture (L).
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

During the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)’s government (2011-17) when Jayalalithaa and her successor O. Panneerselvam were at the helm of affairs, Debendranath Sarangi, on retirement, functioned as Adviser for a couple of months in 2013. Sheela Balakrishnan, who succeeded Mr. Sarangi as Chief Secretary, went on to serve as Adviser nearly for three years after her retirement in March 2014. She was perceived to be so powerful that, many officials felt then, she had overshadowed Chief Secretaries of the period. Not only that, in September 2014, at the time of the conviction of Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case, Ms. Balakrishnan’s name did the rounds as a possible successor. Former Director General of Police K. Ramanujam had also functioned as Adviser for about nine months before being appointed State Chief Information Commissioner in August 2015. During February-April 2021, former Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam held the post. As per the government’s rules of business, files do not pass through Advisers.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at the inauguration of various schemes at State Secretariat in Chennai on July 18, 2011. Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi is in the picture.
| Photo Credit:
M. Vedhan

Given this background, the appointment of Vishnu Reddy and John Arockiasamy as Advisers to the present Chief Minister in May had evoked scepticism in certain circles, whether this arrangement would be a smooth affair. Apart from the two Advisers, the Chief Minister is aided by a team of four IAS officers, one of whom has 30-odd years of experience.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa chairing the three-day annual conference of the District Collectors and police officers at Namakkal Kavignar Maligai in Chennai in 2013 Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan seen on the left.
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu

“There is absolutely no issue on the issue of Advisers to the Chief Minister,” says one group of officials, which is of the view that the demarcation of functions has been “so clear” that there is no room for any conflict. “The Advisers are for the Chief Minister. One takes care of political affairs and another, public events and general matters. It is quite natural that they examine any policy matter, on which decisions are to be taken, from the angle of political implications,” observe this section of officials. Secretaries take instructions from their Ministers and the Chief Secretary, they add.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (left) having a word with Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam (right), during the inauguration of the Chief Minister special grievance program at Vanavasi in Salem district in Tamil Nadu on August 19, 2019.
| Photo Credit:
E. Lakshmi Narayanan

However, there is another view in the bureaucracy that Dr. Sai Kumar, now on a six-month extension, is “in full control” of the administration, and he, at times, conveys the message that he is the boss, giving the impression that the position of the advisers is less important. In fact, during the recent Budget Session of the Assembly, his grip was considered so tight that some Ministers did not know beforehand of the Chief Minister’s statements made in the House under Rule 110. Even though sections of the media have written that the TVK-led regime is “peeved” with the Chief Secretary over the Navodaya school row, another group of officials dismisses the reports and says the Chief Secretary enjoys the “utmost confidence” of Mr. Vijay, and this is why he has been able to assert his position.