Chennai sources have stated that CN Annadurai was chief minister of Tamilnadu for just two years. Meanwhile many old-timers have told that his cabinet meetings were lively with his colleagues participating in discussions and even opposing the DMK founder. "Anna did not change one bit. As chief minister, he remained the same person he was as a party man and Dravidian activist. He had shunned all pomp, either on himself or on his office," which said by Annadurai's biographer R Kannan.

At his house too, Anna did not want new furniture and other paraphernalia associated with a chief minister's residence. Kannan had said that "He told his wife when new furniture was brought to his house that it may come now and go the next day when he ceased to be the CM" and it has become a custom for a new government to change officials soon after assuming office. "Anna retained most of the officials who were working when M Bhaktavatsalam was chief minister.

Initially there were apprehensions within the bureaucracy about the working style of Annadurai. When he started his term, officials called him sir. Soon, they were calling him Anna," and further said that "Anna was a little hesitant to admonish a party cadre or officials for some mistake but Kalaignar was spot on. Kalaignar would discipline the cadre or official at the spot and at the same time praise any cadre or official for any good dead. This is a major difference in the style of functioning between Anna and Kalaignar".

Moreover the cabinet meetings which were held by Anna were lively and due to his short term in office he conducted only a few meetings. "The cabinet meetings were held professionally and there was space for opposition within this party". Of the 50 years, DMK has been in government for 21 years and AIADMK for 25 years. The state has been under President's rule for four years.