Vijay govt at 100 days: An old state, a new ruler, and pros and cons of inexperience

One hundred days marks a government experiment in Tamil Nadu - a long-established administrative machine suddenly occupied by a political class with almost no experience operating it. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay represents this new era, but his lack of institutional experience could be both a handicap and an advantage. Visible corruption has declined under Vijay's leadership, but it remains uncertain whether this trend will last.

The new government faces challenges in acquiring the skills required to handle corruption, which could take six to twelve months. By not having a party fund to rely on, ministers now think twice before demanding or accepting money, potentially breaking the cycle of officials paying politicians for postings and recovering the investment below.

Police officers now face less pressure from local political satraps. However, the real test of Vijay's governance is whether the state learns from visible failures and develops a comprehensive system to detect and address issues before they become crises.