446. The Cabinet Meeting

Gunaseelan, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state, after his party won the elections to the state assembly, was discussing cabinet formation with Kumaravel, the President of the party. 

"Gunaseelan! It was your strategy and campaign that enabled our party to achieve such a resounding victory at the hustings. So, I think that you should have the freedom to form the cabinet with people of your choice. I will not make any recommendations or suggestions" said Kumaravel.

"Thank you, sir! It was your guidance and encouragement that provided the inspiration to me. I really mean it" said Gunaseelan.

"During your previous term as the Chief Minister, the pressures you had faced from various leaders of our party, the impediments caused by them and the wrongs committed by some of them led to our defeat in the next election. I had also failed to restrain the leaders of our party, who caused the problems to you. I don't want a similar situation to develop this time. That's why I believe that you should function with complete independence."

"Yes, sir. However, choosing the right people alone will not ensure good governance. I have a plan for providing good governance. I need your permission to execute that plan."

"Tell me what it is."

After Gunaseelan outlined his plan, Kumaravel said, with excitement "Excellent idea. Please go ahead. You will have my full backing in implementing the plan." 

The first meeting of the cabinet began.

"What is this? How can you do this?" asked Arasakumar, a senior minister, angrily.

"What have I done?" asked Gunaseelan, smiling.

"You have thirty ministers in your cabinet. But you have appointed six special secretaries under you. You have made each one of them in charge of five cabinet ministers. You have brought in a rule that each cabinet minister, should send all the files to the secretary assigned to him, who will forward the files to you, with his recommendations. This appears like having a super cabinet over the cabinet!"

"This arrangement also appears unconstitutional" said Kamalanahan, another senior minister, concerned an expert on legal matters.

"There is nothing unconstitutional about this arrangement" said Gunaseelan, turning to Kamalanathan. "The Chief Minister has the power to appoint any number of secretaries to assist him. The secretaries are not going to approve any proposal sent by a minister. They will just write their views on the proposal and send the file to me. I will approve or decline the proposal of the minister and send the file back to him."

He then turned to Arasakumar and said, "Mr. Arasakumar! During our previous tenure, several mistakes were made and we were unable to check them. That's why we lost the elections at that time. Our party president has advised me that this time I should not give any room for such mistakes to occur. He is very particular that our government should be one that delivers good things to people, without any scope for mistakes or wrongdoings. I am not suggesting that my cabinet colleagues could commit wrongdoings. But, mistakes may creep in, even with our being not aware of them. The people whom I have appointed as my special secretaries are persons of knowledge and wisdom. They have integrity and a concern for the society. Their guidance and counsel can be beneficial to you also. I have made this arrangement, ensuring that your status, prestige and authority as cabinet ministers will be preserved. I am sure that after a few weeks, you will realize how valuable their guidance and counsel is to all of us." 

Every one remained silent.

Gunaseelan turned his gaze on each of the ministers and said, "Of course, if any of you don't like this arrangement, you are free to resign from my cabinet" smiling.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults

Verse 444 (in Tamil):

thakkAr inaththanAyth than ozhuga vallAnaich
cheRRAr seyakk kidandhadhu il.

Meaning:

A person who is in the company of great men and acts as per their counsel cannot be harmed by his enemies.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'amaichcharavaik kUttam' by the same author.)

Verse 447 (Soon)
Verse 444