By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Jan 4, 2023, 16:41
M.K. Stalin is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The CM is someone who is the chief executive of the Indian state. In other words, the de facto authority (what happens in reality), rests with the Chief Minister of the state. The Tamil Nadu CM is appointed by the governor for an official period of up to five years.
Over the years since India became a republic, there have been many people who have acted as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. We have shared the complete Tamil Nadu CM List from 1952 to the present here.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu carries out several responsibilities. He/She is the head of the government of the state. The current CM of Tamil Nadu is M.K. Stalin, who joined the CM office on 7th May 2021. He is a member of the Indian National Congress. From the list of Tamil Nadu chief ministers, M. Karunanidhi has been the longest-serving CM of the state.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is appointed by the governor of the state. Here, we have shared some facts about the CM of the state.
Several political leaders from several political parties have served as Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu. Here, we have shared the details about the party they belonged to and the years till when they served as CM. Check out the complete list Tamil Nadu Chief Minister list below.
S. No. | Tamil Nadu CM | From | To | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | M. K. Stalin | 7th May 2021 | Present | DMK |
2 | Edappadi K Palaniswami | 16th Feb 2017 | 6th May 2021 | AIADMK |
3 | O. Panneerselvam | 6th Dec 2016 | 16th Feb 2017 | AIADMK |
4 | J. Jayalalithaa | 19th May 2016 | 5th Dec 2016 | AIADMK |
5 | J. Jayalalithaa | 23rd May 2015 | 19th May 2016 | AIADMK |
6 | O. Panneerselvam | 29th Sep 2014 | 23rd May 2015 | AIADMK |
7 | J. Jayalalithaa | 16th May 2011 | 27th Sep 2014 | AIADMK |
8 | M. Karunanidhi | 13th May 2006 | 15th May 2011 | DMK |
9 | J. Jayalalithaa | 2nd Mar 2002 | 12th May 2006 | AIADMK |
10 | O. Panneerselvam | 21st Sep 2001 | 1st Mar 2002 | AIADMK |
11 | J. Jayalalithaa | 14th May 2001 | 21st Sep 2001 | AIADMK |
12 | M. Karunanidhi | 13th May 1996 | 13th May 2001 | DMK |
13 | J. Jayalalithaa | 24th Jun 1991 | 12th May 1996 | AIADMK |
President's rule | 30th Jan 1991 | 24th Jun 1991 | ||
14 | M. Karunanidhi | 27th Jan 1989 | 30th Jan 1991 | DMK |
| President's rule | 30th Jan 1988 | 27th Jan 1989 | |
15 | Janaki Ramachandran | 7th Jan 1988 | 30th Jan 1988 | AIADMK |
16 | V.R. Nedunchezhiyan (acting) | 24th Dec 1987 | 7th Jan 1988 | AIADMK |
17 | M. G. Ramachandran | 10th Feb 1985 | 24th Dec 1987 | AIADMK |
18 | M. G. Ramachandran | 9th Jun 1980 | 15th Nov 1984 | AIADMK |
19 | President's rule | 17th Feb 1980 | 9th Jun 1980 | |
20 | M. G. Ramachandran | 30th Jun 1977 | 17th Feb 1980 | AIADMK |
| President's rule | 31st Jan 1976 | 30th Jun 1977 | |
21 | M. Karunanidhi | 15th Mar 1971 | 31st Jan 1976 | DMK |
22 | M. Karunanidhi | 10th Feb 1969 | 4th Jan 1971 | DMK |
23 | V.R. Nedunchezhiyan (acting) | 3rd Feb 1969 | 10th Feb 1969 | DMK |
24 | C. N. Annadurai | 14th Jan 1969 | 3rd Feb 1969 | DMK |
25 | C. N. Annadurai | 6th Mar 1967 | 14th Jan 1969 | DMK |
26 | M. Bakthavatsalam | 2nd Oct 1963 | 6th Mar 1967 | INC |
27 | K. Kamaraj | 15th Mar 1962 | 2nd Oct 1963 | INC |
28 | K. Kamaraj | 13th Apr 1957 | 1st Mar 1962 | INC |
29 | K. Kamaraj | 13th Apr 1954 | 31st Mar 1957 | INC |
30 | C. Rajagopalachari | 10th Apr 1952 | 13th Apr 1954 | INC |
31 | P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja | 26th Jan 1950 | 9th Apr 1952 | INC |
Before India became a Republic, the region of Tamil Nadu was known as the Madras Presidency. When the country became a republic in 1950, the Indian National Congress leader, P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja became the first CM of Tamil Nadu. Kumaraswamy Raja was the CM from 26th January 1950 to 9th April 1952.
Moreover, besides being the first CM of Tamil Nadu, P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja was also the last Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency from 6th April 1949 to 26th January 1950. His tenure as Tamil Nadu CM was succeeded by another INC leader, C. Rajagopalachari.
Muthavel Karunanidhi Stalin, also known as M.K. Stalin, is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Stalin is serving as the Tamil Nadu CM since 7th May 2021. Before him, Edappadi K. Palaniswami was the Tamil Nadu CM for a duration of 4 years, from 16th February 2017 to 3rd May 2021.
The governor appoints the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In India, the Chief Minister of a state is directly appointed by the governor of that state. So, the Tamil Nadu CM, M.K. Stalin was appointed by the governor of Tamil Nadu. Stalin has been the CM of Tamil Nadu since 7th May 2021.
The Tamil Nadu CM list from 1952-2022 has been shared here. You can find out the details about the previous Tamil Nadu CMs, their tenure in the office, the date of commencement of office, and their last day in office in the list shared here. The current serving Tamil Nadu CM is M.K. Stalin.
Since 1952, 12 people have served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Many of the previous Tamil Nadu CMs, such as J. Jayalalithaa, K. Kamaraj, M. Karunanidhi, etc. have served the office multiple times. The present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is M.K. Stalin.
The first CM of Tamil Nadu after India became a republic was P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja, who served from 26th January 1950 to 9th April 1952. P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja was from the Indian National Congress Party, and also served as the last Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency from 6th April 1949 to 26th January 1950.