Since Kamaraj took charge as C.M. from 1954 he formed interim ministry and governed for 3 1/2 years. His record was appreciated d by all. Even opposite party people were afraid to blame his rule.
At this situation in the 1957 general election Congress won with an absolute majority, out of 205 seats Congress bagged 151. It astonished the whole India. For Madras state assembly Kamaraj won and became C.M. . He formed the second ministry.
Kamaraj submitted the list to the Governor A.J.John consisting the names of M/s. M.Bakthavathsalam , C.Subramanian , A.Manickavelan , P.Kakkan , V.Ramiah and Mrs.Lurdu Ammal Simon. His 2nd ministry took charge in 13th April 1957. Later R.Venkatraman was included in the ministry.
In 1957 general election Kamaraj was elected from Sathur Constituency . This election was a lesson to Kamaraj. Except Ananda Vikatan , the Tamil weekly , no paper or magazine supported Congress.
In general they were against Congress. Though Congress won in the election Kamaraj felt that there should be a news paper for Congress.
According to his wish a Tamil Daily by name ” Thai Nadu ” was proposed to be started in 1958.
But due to some delay in getting the machinery the daily could not be started. The registration of title was also expired.
In 1960 a daily by name ” Nava Sakthi ” was started. It was out and out for Kamaraj. The aim of it was to propaganda Kamaraj’s view.
In the 1962 election Congress bugged 139 seats and DMK 50. The communist who got 15 seats in 1952 election could get only 4 in 1957.Now it got only 2 seats.
Kamaraj was elected as C.M. for the third time. He sworn in as C.M. before the then Governor Vishnu Ram Methi. on 15th March 1962. There were 9 persons including the C.M. in the ministry. It is to noted that it was only the smallest cabinet in India.
Vinobaji toured Madras state ( 1956) only during Kamaraj’s period. Kamaraj joined with him in tour and addressed the meeting s. Vinobaji saw the affection of the public towards Kamaraj and said that he was only the true follower of Gandhiji.
Kamaraj was not only sitting in the fort where the flag was flying but he also was in the hearts of the public. He was the public and public was him. He was the only leader who constructed a bridge between the huts and the fort. He stood first in having a remarkable memory power in public life. Kamaraj was the main reason to forbid the red tapism in government.
Kamaraj remained Chief Minister for three consecutive terms. On October 2, 1963, he resigned to serve a greater purpose. Kamaraj noticed that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigor . He came up with a plan which was called the “Kamaraj Plan.” He proposed that all senior Congress leaders should resign form their posts and devote all their energy to the re-vitalization of the Congress. A number of Central and State ministers like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jagjivan Ram, Morarji Desai and S.K. Patil followed suite and resigned from their posts. In 1964, Kamaraj was elected the President of the All India Congress and he successfully navigated the nation through the stormy years following Nehru’s death.