TVK regime’s experiment with two CM advisers alongside Chief Secretary sent mixed vibes to TN bureaucratic circles

The experiment of a coexistence regime in the administration led by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — two aides to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay along with Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar — is creating mixed vibes in official circles.

This is not the first time that the state government has appointed an adviser. At different times, since 1989, different regimes have had advisers to chief ministers, starting with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). But Tamil Nadu’s experience has not been pleasant all along. There were constant differences between the advisers and the chief secretaries.

In late January 1989, former Finance Minister S. Guhan, who had served on the Willy Brandt Commission, became an advisor to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He remained in the post until June 1990 when he became a member of the State Planning Commission, a decision taken by Karunanidhi himself after the then Chief Secretary MM Rajendran complained twice to the Chief Minister about Guhan’s “interference”, according to his memoirs published in 2020. In May 1998, outgoing Chief Secretary KA Nambiar was offered the post, but he did not take up the post.

During the all-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government (2011-17), when Jayalalithaa and her successor O. Panneerselvam, retired Debendranath Sarangi, were at the helm of affairs, she functioned as an advisor for a few months in 2013. Sheela joined as secretary to Mr. Sarakrishnan. Counselor for almost three years after her retirement in March 2014. She was seen as so powerful that she overshadowed then chief secretaries in the opinion of many officials at the time. Not only that, in September 2014, at the time of Jayalalithaa’s conviction in the disproportionate assets case, Ms. Balakrishnan’s name was floated as a possible successor. Former Director General of Police K. Ramanujam also served as an adviser for about nine months before he was appointed as the state’s Chief Information Commissioner in August 2015. During February to April 2021, former Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam held this position. Under government business rules, files do not go through advisers.

Given these facts, the appointment of Vishnu Reddy and John Arockiasamy as advisers to the current chief minister in May raised skepticism in certain quarters that the arrangement would be seamless. Besides two advisers, the chief minister is assisted by a team of four IAS officers, one of whom has 30 years of experience.

“There is absolutely no problem on the issue of advisers to the chief minister,” says one group of officials, who are of the view that the delineation of posts has been “so clear” that there is no room for any conflict. “The advisers are to the chief minister. One looks after political affairs and the other looks after public affairs and general affairs. It is quite natural that they examine every political matter they have to decide for political implications,” notes this section of officials. The secretaries take instructions from their ministers and the chief secretary, they add.

However, there is a different opinion in the bureaucracy that Dr. Sai Kumar has “full control” of the administration and occasionally communicates that he is the boss, giving the impression that the position of advisers is less important. In fact, during the recent budget session of the Assembly, his grip was said to be so tight that some ministers had no prior knowledge of the Chief Minister’s declarations made in the House under Article 110. While a section of the media wrote that the TVK-led regime was “furious” with the Chief Secretary over the Navodaya school row, another group of officials dismissed the reports, Mr. Vijamost enjoying confidence, saying that the Chiefmost and that is why he was able to push through his position.

Published – 20 Sep 2026 01:04 IST