The decision of the legislators to elect Murugan as their leader was only as per the command of Santhalingam.
Though several senior leaders of the party, with long experience in politics, who had served as ministers, were hoping to get the opportunity of taking up the place vacated by Santalingam were shocked and dismayed by Santhalingam choosing Murugan, a junior minister in his cabinet with very little experience, who was not even known to many people, as his successor, they did not even utter a mutter of protest, since they knew that such expression of dissent, apart from being futile, would only jeopardize their position in the party.
When the Governor administered the oath of office to the Chief Minister and other ministers, another shock was waiting for the senior leaders.
Murugan did not include in his cabinet many people who were ministers in Santhalingam's cabinet. He had inducted several new people into his cabinet.
Soon after Murugan, after being sworn in, took his seat in the Chief Minister's room in the secretariat, three senior leaders who had been ministers in Santalingam's cabinet barged into his room.
Adimoolam, the most senior among the three, even before taking his seat, asked Murugan in a loud and angry tone, "Murugan! What do you think of yourself?"
Since Adimoolam had held the second position in terms of seniority in the cabinet of three Chief Ministers, he had the nickname 'The Permanent Number 2.' He was upset and angry that he was robbed of that permanent place!
"Sir! While speaking to the Chief Minister, you should show the respect due to his office" said Murugan, calmly.
Controlling the anger that surged in him, Adimoolam told Murugan, "You have become the Chief Minister only by virtue of the charity of our leader. But you are acting, without considering that fact. Our leader expected you to run the government with the ministers in his cabinet, act as per their advice and return the Chief Minister's post to him, when he comes back. But you have constituted a cabinet with people of your choice, leaving out seniors like us."
"Sir! You are a well-informed person. So, you must be aware that it is the Chief Minister's prerogative to choose the members of his cabinet " said Murugan, tersely.
"Power has gone to your head. I am meeting our leader in prison tomorrow when I will apprise him of your arbitrary functioning. He will get you thrown out in no time!" said Adimoolam angrily and left the room in a huff.
The other two leaders followed him.
After Adimoolam had left, the Chief Secretary came to meet the Chief Minister.
Murugan called the peon and asked him not to allow anyone into his room for the next half an hour.
"Congratulations, sir!" said the Chief Secretary.
"Thank you, sir. I have great regards for you. I have heard about your competence and integrity. I have also observed your functioning, when I was a minister in the previous cabinet. I need your full-fledged support for me to function effectively" Murugan told the Chief Secretary.
"It is my duty to serve you, sir!" said the chief Secretary. After a little hesitation, he added, "I am not saying this because you have become the Chief Minister. I have observed your functioning and made an assessment of you as a person with good potential. I am happy that you have made it to the top so soon."
"Thank you, sir. I want to discuss a few things with you, frankly. I came to politics with the intention of doing good to people. But after entering politics, I discovered that it was not easy. I thought that if I got a suitable opportunity, I would do things for the benefit of the people. Somehow, I came into the good books of our leader, became a legislator and a minister. But, even after becoming a minister, I couldn't do much. I realized that my party expected me to utilize my position and power for the benefit of the party and a few people the party wanted to help, in return for a consideration from them, rather than utilize my position and power to help the poor and the needy. However, I was doing what little good I could do within the constraints I had. Now, quite unexpectedly, this opportunity has come my way. I don't know why our leader chose me over many senior leaders in the party. Perhaps, he had a fear that if he gave this position to some senior leader, that person would try to get himself well-entrenched in power and won't step down, when he came out of prison and became eligible to hold the office. That may be the reason for his choosing a light weight like me, who had no clout in the party. When my leader comes back, I will definitely quit my post, paving the way for him to take over. But, I think it would take at least one year for him to come out, if at all. In any case, we have the election in two years. Therefore, I have decided to make use of this opportunity to deliver a good government to the people and do whatever good I can, to the people, during the short period I have. If I had senior ministers in my cabinet, they might not allow me to do things which I want to. That's why, I have picked up a new set of people as ministers. Like me, they also came to politics, intending to do good to people. I have some ideas. But, to implement them successfully, I need the help and guidance of good officers like you."
"I feel heartened to hear what you have said. I have been pining to work under people like you, who have such noble intentions. But, I am not sure whether you have considered a big obstacle likely to come in your way!" said the Chief Minister.
"I understand what you are hinting at. There will be attempts within my party to vote me out and elect a new leader in my place. Are you not referring to this?"
"Yes. This can happen even within a few days."
"I think the chances for such an eventuality are slim. I am not going to the prison to meet my leader. It will be inappropriate for a Chief Minister to meet a convicted person in the jail. My leader will understand my position. Therefore, there will be no opportunity for him to directly ask me to resign my post. If he conveys this message through some other leaders, I will ignore it. Our party has only a wafer thin majority of five members in the legislature. Therefore, even if our leader comes out on bail soon, the party will not act in haste and precipitate the matter. There is about a month's time for the next session of the legislature. Our party leaders won't do anything till that time. Before that, I will take some quick steps that would result in benefits for the people and create a good impression about my government in the minds of people. After that, it will be difficult for my party leaders to replace me. Even if they replace me, I won't mind. There is a lot that can be done within a month. Have we not had a Chief Minister who amazed every one by doing many good things within two weeks of his being sworn in as the Chief Minister?" said Murugan, smiling.
Section 2
Knowing One's Strength
seydhaRku ariya seyal.
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