One Chief Minister, many ‘advisers’: Too many cooks spoil the broth?

The appointment of Vishnu Reddy and John Arockiasamy as Advisers to the present Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in Tamil Nadu is being discussed in bureaucracy. 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. The state Chief Secretary is also giving suggestions to the CM on various issues. The bureaucrats discuss it and conclude the debate by commenting - Too many cooks spoil the broth. The saying is often used to highlight the importance of clear leadership, defined roles, and a unified vision in collaborative efforts. Also, it has been for the first time that two advisers have been appointed to the Chief Minister; otherwise, most of the former CMs have one Adviser.