After Shivaji, his son Shambhaji became the second Chhatrapati following a brief succession struggle. Shambhaji was highly suspicious of the traditional Maratha ministers (Ashtapradhan) and chose to elevate his trusted Brahmin friend, Kavi Kalash, to the position of chief advisor (often cited as the second effective Peshwa). Kavi Kalash, despite his lack of administrative experience, was given supreme power, effectively bypassing the traditional Maratha administration and contributing to friction between Shambhaji and the established Maratha nobility.