Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers List: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu serves as the state's chief executive. According to the Constitution of India, the governor acts as the de jure head, while the de facto executive authority lies with the chief minister. Currently, M.K. Stalin from the DMK party is the chief minister, having taken the oath on May 7, 2021.
The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively accountable to the assembly. Tamil Nadu chief ministers list, along with their terms and party affiliations, is provided below since 1920 to 2026.
Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers List 1920 to 2026
The first chief minister of Tamil Nadu was A. Subbarayalu Reddiar from the Justice Party. V.N. Janaki Ramachandran was the first woman chief minister. The current chief minister is Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin (M.K. Stalin). Below is the list of chief ministers of Tamil Nadu along with their parties and tenures.
| S. No | Chief Minister Name | From | To | Party Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. K. Stalin | 7 May 2021 | Present | DMK |
| 2 | Edappadi K. Palaniswami | 16-Feb-2017 | 6-May-2021 | AIADMK |
| 4 | O. Panneerselvam | 6-Dec-2016 | 15-Feb-2017 | AIADMK |
| 5 | J. Jayalalithaa | 24-May-2016 | 4-Dec-2016 | AIADMK |
| 6 | J. Jayalalithaa | 23-May-2015 | 23-May-2016 | AIADMK |
| 7 | O. Panneerselvam | 29-Sep-2014 | 22-May-2015 | AIADMK |
| 8 | J. Jayalalithaa | 16-May-2011 | 27-Sep-2014 | AIADMK |
| 8 | M. Karunanidhi | 13-May-2006 | 15-May-2011 | DMK |
| 9 | J. Jayalalithaa | 2-Mar-2002 | 12-May-2006 | AIADMK |
| 10 | O. Panneerselvam | 21-Sep-2001 | 1-Mar-2002 | AIADMK |
| 11 | J. Jayalalithaa | 14-May-2001 | 21-Sep-2001 | AIADMK |
| 12 | M. Karunanidhi | 13-May-1996 | 13-May-2001 | DMK |
| 13 | J. Jayalalithaa | 24-Jun-1991 | 13-May-1996 | AIADMK |
| 14 | President’s rule | 30-Jan-1991 | 24-Jun-1991 | DMK |
| 15 | M. Karunanidhi | 27-Jan-1989 | 30-Jan-1991 | DMK |
| 16 | President’s rule | 30-Jan-1988 | 27-Jan-1989 | - |
| 17 | Janaki Ramachandran | 7-Jan-1988 | 30-Jan-1988 | AIADMK |
| 18 | V.R. Nedunchezhiyan | 24-Dec-1987 | 7-Jan-1988 | AIADMK |
| 19 | M. G. Ramachandran | 10-Feb-1985 | 24-Dec-1987 | AIADMK |
| 20 | M. G. Ramachandran | 9-Jun-1980 | 15-Nov-1984 | AIADMK |
| 21 | President’s rule | 17-Feb-1980 | 9-Jun-1980 | - |
| 22 | M. G. Ramachandran | 1-Jul-1977 | 17-Feb-1980 | AIADMK |
| 23 | President’s rule | 31-Jan-1976 | 30-Jun-1977 | - |
| 24 | M. Karunanidhi | 15-Mar-1971 | 31-Jan-1976 | DMK |
| 25 | M. Karunanidhi | 10-Feb-1969 | 4-Jan-1971 | DMK |
| 26 | V.R. Nedunchezhiyan | 3-Feb-1969 | 10-Feb-1969 | DMK |
| 27 | C. N. Annadurai | 1-Mar-1967 | 3-Feb-1969 | DMK |
| 28 | C. N. Annadurai | 6-Mar-1967 | 14-Jan-1969 | DMK |
| 29 | M. Bakthavatsalam | 2-Oct-1963 | 6-Mar-1967 | INC |
| 30 | K. Kamaraj | 15-Mar-1962 | 2-Oct-1963 | INC |
| 31 | K. Kamaraj | 13-Apr-1957 | 1-Mar-1962 | INC |
| 32 | K. Kamaraj | 13-Apr-1954 | 31-Mar-1957 | INC |
| 33 | C. Rajagopalachari | 10-Apr-1952 | 13-Apr-1954 | INC |
| 34 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja | 26-Jan-1950 | 10-Apr-1952 | INC |
| 35 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja | 6-Apr-1949 | 26-Jan-1950 | INC |
| 36 | O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar | 23-Mar-1947 | 6-Apr-1949 | INC |
| 37 | Tanguturi Prakasam | 30-Apr-1946 | 23-Mar-1947 | INC |
| 38 | Governor’s Rule | 29-Oct-1939 | 30-Apr-1946 | INC |
| 39 | C. Rajagopalachari | 14-Jul-1937 | 29-Oct-1939 | INC |
| 40 | Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu | 1-Apr-1937 | 14-Jul-1937 | Interim provisional ministry |
| 41 | Raja of Bobbili | 24-Aug-1936 | 1-Apr-1937 | Justice Party |
| 42 | P. T. Rajan | 4-Apr-1936 | 24-Aug-1936 | Justice Party |
| 43 | Raja of Bobbili | 5-Nov-1934 | 4-Apr-1936 | Justice Party |
| 44 | Raja of Bobbili | 5-Nov-1932 | 5-Nov-1934 | Justice Party |
| 45 | B. Munuswamy Naidu | 27-Oct-1930 | 5-Nov-1932 | Justice Party |
| 46 | P. Subbarayan | 4-Dec-1926 | 27-Oct-1930 | Unaffiliated |
| 47 | Raja of Panagal | 19-Nov-1923 | 4-Dec-1926 | Justice Party |
| 48 | Raja of Panagal | 11-Jul-1921 | 11-Sep-1923 | Justice Party |
| 49 | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar | 17-Dec-1920 | 11-Jul-1921 | Justice Party |
Tamil Nadu CM List from 1920 to 2020 with Photo
For a visual list of Tamil Nadu chief ministers from 1920 to 2020, along with photos and their terms of office, please check the link below.
You can also check the complete list of state chief ministers at the following link:
https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/whos-who/chief-ministers
Highlights of Tamil Nadu CM
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| First CM (Madras Presidency) | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar |
| First CM (Tamil Nadu) | C. N. Annadurai |
| Current CM | M. K. Stalin |
| Major Parties | DMK, AIADMK, INC |
| Total CMs (Till Date) | 20+ (including acting) |
| Political Evolution | Presidency → State → Tamil Nadu |