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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said her government has taken several scientific measures to tackle the Capital’s legacy waste problem and reclaimed approximately 100 acres across the Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur landfill sites so far. 

She said 70 lakh metric tonnes of waste had been processed at the Okhla landfill and about 35 acres reclaimed. At Bhalswa, 102 lakh metric tonnes had been processed and about 45 acres reclaimed, while at Ghazipur, 44 lakh metric tonnes had been processed and about 20 acres reclaimed. 

The inert material generated during waste processing is being used for road construction and to fill low-lying areas, the Chief Minister said. 

“The lifestyle of those who live around it has improved and property rates in the area surrounding the landfills have also gone up,” Ms. Gupta said in a video. 

To prevent garbage from piling up again, the government is introducing four new waste-to-energy plants to ensure that waste generated in the city is processed immediately, she said. 

The Okhla and Bhalswa landfills have a December 2026 deadline for clearance, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi aims to clear the Ghazipur landfill by the end of 2027, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi had announced last month. 

Development works 

The Chief Minister also announced a series of works to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, covering sanitation, water and sewerage systems, traffic, education, power and civic facilities. 

“Our government is resolved to ensure that the benefits of development reach every area and every section of Delhi,” Ms. Gupta said. 

The most prominent face of the Congress in Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, is set to realise his long-held ambition of becoming Chief Minister on June 3. By passing the baton from Karnataka’s longest-serving Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to Mr. Shivakumar, the Congress appears to have resolved a grievance among his supporters, who believed that he deserved the post when the party returned to power in 2023 after leading its poll campaign as State unit president. Evidently, the Congress national leadership appears to have managed the transition in Karnataka better than it did in Rajasthan and Punjab in 2020-21, where its decisions — retaining Ashok Gehlot despite Sachin Pilot’s rebellion (2020) and replacing Amarinder Singh with Charanjit Singh Channi (2021) — failed to yield dividends in the Assembly elections. The Congress high command has also carried out the change of guard in Karnataka with an eye on the 2028 Assembly elections. There are symptoms of anti-incumbency sentiment acquiring more strength. As the Congress has chosen Mr. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, to succeed Mr Siddaramaiah, the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance is likely to face the poll together, as otherwise, the two parties gain little politically. Besides, the JD(S)’s top leaders belong to the Vokkaliga community and Mr. Shivakumar has been engaged in a decades-long contest with them for influence over the community, especially in the Old Mysuru region.

If the Congress and Mr. Shivakumar play their cards well, they could break Karnataka’s 35-year record of voting out incumbent governments. Having successfully handled political crises, Mr. Shivakumar should by now have a plan for winning in 2028. He must also carry all sections of the party with him and adopt a consultative approach to major policy decisions. Despite implementing several welfare and populist schemes, Karnataka has maintained fiscal discipline under the Congress government. In the just concluded FY2025-26, revenue deficit, at about ₹19,500 crore, is the lowest among similarly placed southern States. While this offers some consolation, Karnataka’s total revenue receipts grew by a modest 6.3%. Reducing stark inter-regional disparities should be a priority. In 2024-25, Bengaluru Urban district contributed about 40% of Karnataka’s GSDP, while Dakshina Kannada and Belagavi accounted for 5.3% and 3.9%, respectively. Uneven regional development can be seen in the Human Development Index too — Bengaluru Urban with 0.738, while Yadgir (0.538), Kalaburagi (0.539), and Raichur (0.562) are at the bottom. At a time when States, especially those under non-BJP parties, are facing shrinking fiscal and development space, their Chief Ministers should focus on addressing the chronic issues that affect the underprivileged. Mr. Shivakumar’s experience can help him fulfil this responsibility.

The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali called on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat in Chennai on Tuesday. Mr. Ali, along with his wife Begum Sayeeda Abdul Ali and family members, congratulated Mr. Vijay on his victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. They also held a discussion with the Chief Minister. Separately, Dheeraj G. Hinduja, chairman of Ashok Leyland, also called on the Chief Minister and held a discussion with him.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu advised Kavali MLA Dagumati Venkata Krishna Reddy (Kavya Krishna Reddy) on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) to improve the performance of 13 departments in his constituency. Participating in the ‘Matsyakarula Sevalo’ programme at Thummalapenta village in the Kavali mandal of SPSR Nellore district, he announced a department-wise performance review.

Out of 51 departments, 48 in the district have achieved better results compared to the performance of departments across the state. He directed the officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Endowments, and Rural Water Supply (RWS) Departments to work diligently and meet the expectations of the people.

The Chief Minister lauded the district administration for working efficiently under the leadership of Collector Himanshu Shukla. He urged the officials to maintain the same spirit to ensure that the people are satisfied. He also congratulated the officers of the Irrigation, Agriculture, and Fire departments for their effective work.

He said that 91% of the people in the district expressed satisfaction with the distribution of social pensions, the highest in the State, and specially congratulated the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) officials for providing better services. The district ranked first in the State in providing CM Relief Fund and implementing mid-day meals.

On the heels of the crisis in the Congress in Kerala over the selection of the Chief Minister has come an equally intense battle for the post of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.  According to party insiders, the KPCC president Sunny Joseph, MLA-designate, is likely to relinquish the organisational post to take up a significant role in the next United Democratic Front (UDF) government, leaving the KPCC president’s post up for grabs. 

A senior leader said a restructuring of the KPCC leadership was inevitable, and that age, social demographics, and political merit would guide the All India Congress Committee (AICC)’s choice for the post. 

According to sources, the frontrunners for the post include Benny Behanan, Kodikunnil Suresh, Anto Antony, and Shafi Parambil — all Lok Sabha MPs. Sources said Mr. Behanan wasn’t keen to lobby for the post if the decision was guided by caste and religious considerations. He is said to be miffed about being passed over for the post in the past despite his “experience and organisational standing.”

Meanwhile, media reports suggested that Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh has once again advanced his claim for the post and had met Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi. Mr. Suresh told the Hindu that it was too early for the AICC to weigh which leader was optimal as KPCC president. “I had met Mr Kharge. It was a routine goodwill visit, and we did not dwell on any organisational matter. The high command is now preoccupied with discussions concerning Kerala’s prospective Chief Minister. The question of who will assume charge as the next KPCC president would come later”, he added. Neither Mr. Shafi nor Mr. Antony was immediately available for comment. 

INTUC steps in

Meanwhile, the question of who among V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala would be Congress’s Chief Minister in Kerala continued to roil the party’s State unit on Monday. The ongoing tussle over Congress’s Chief Minister choice appeared unabated, with the party’s trade union, the INTUC, wading into the dispute. INTUC leader R. Chandrasekharan appeared to object to Mr Venugopal’s candidature, stating that an MLA-designate should be the party’s candidate for the top post.

Meanwhile, the party high command has begun consulting senior leaders on the issue. It has summoned former KPCC presidents, K. Sudhakaran, Mullapally Ramachandran, and K. Muraleedharan to Delhi for consultation. A KPCC insider said the high command will likely seek the opinion of party veterans, including A.K. Antony and V.M. Sudheeran, before taking a final call.

The decision on Congress’ Chief Minister in Kerala seemed to assume the contours of a political cliff-hanger on Friday (May 8, 2026). The question of who among the purported three Chief Minister probables – Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal, and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala – would make the cut appeared set to go down to the wire, with party High Command reportedly scheduled to make the pivotal announcement on Sunday. 

Mr. Satheesan, Mr. Chennithala and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph were bound for Delhi, reportedly for a penultimate round of discussions with the party’s High Command on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the accidental disclosure of a part of a document purportedly showing a list of “yes” votes from elected Congress MLAs supposedly backing Mr Venugopal, published in a newspaper on Friday, caused political embarrassment, prompting AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken to deny the “record’s legitimacy”. 

Notably, Mr. Joseph, who, as per the “questionable” document surreptitiously captured by a lensman, appeared to back Mr. Venugopal, stated somewhat enigmatically to reporters that “numbers meant everything in parliamentary politics”. His statement assumed some significance against the backdrop of reports that a majority of Congress’ MLA designates had backed Mr Venugopal for the “top post”. Notably, Sandeep Varier, another MLA designate whose name was on the “yes sayer’s list”, did not deny that he had backed Mr Venugopal. The “list” seemed to hold a mirror up to the allegedly raging power struggles and turmoil in Congress over the Chief Minister’s post. 

For one, the party’s MLA-designate from Uduma in Kasaragod, N. Neelakantan, emailed AICC’s observers that they had “erroneously” recorded his “definite choice” for the Chief Minister’s post as “neutral” in the “list”. Mr Neelakantan’s complaint triggered social media insinuations by Congress’ “faction fighters” that attempts were afoot to stack the odds in Mr. Venugopal’s favour by disregarding “naysayers”. 

Allies express apprehension

Notably, UDF allies have repeatedly expressed apprehensions that the “vexatious” selection process would carve up the Congress and, by extension, the alliance, rendering the tight-knit leadership team that delivered the historical electoral win divided profoundly. 

Mr. Satheesan, Mr. Venugopal and Mr. Chennithala are at different points in their long political career. A KPCC insider said that the High Command had reportedly summoned the three leaders to Delhi, possibly to “work out a deal to avert an acrimonious leadership race that might have implications for the next UDF government”. 

Meanwhile, the poster war between the supporters of the three leaders seemed to be spiralling out of control, with scores of new, competing hoardings appearing across Kerala.