Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

2026-06-02T05:06:40Z

50.251.33.241: enhanced page also

{{Short description|Leader of the executive branch of the Government of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]]
| body = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| native_name = {{lang|ta-Latn|Tamiḻnāṭu Mutalamaiccar}}
| insignia = TamilNadu Logo.svg
| insigniacaption = [[Emblem of Tamil Nadu]]
| flag = Flag of India.svg
| flagsize = 100px
| flagcaption = [[Flag of India]]
| image = File:C. Joseph Vijay (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| incumbent = [[C. Joseph Vijay]]
| incumbentsince = 10 May 2026
| style = [[The Honourable]]
| type = [[Head of government]]
| abbreviation = CM
| member_of = *[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
*[[Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers]]
| reports_to = *[[Governor of Tamil Nadu]]
*[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| appointer = [[Governor of Tamil Nadu]]
| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1952|04|10}}
| first = {{bulleted list|[[A. Subbarayalu Reddiar]] {{small|(as Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/history/cmlist.php|title=Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>|[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]] {{small|(as Chief Minister of Madras State)}}|[[C. N. Annadurai]] {{small|(as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)}}}}
| deputy = [[Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.tn.gov.in/con_cmsc.php|tn.gov.in/con_cmsc.php}}
}}
The '''chief minister of Tamil Nadu''' is the [[head of government]] of the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. In accordance with the [[Constitution of India]], the [[Governor (India)|governor]] is a state's ''[[de jure]]'' head, while the ''[[de facto]]'' authority rests with the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief minister]]. Following elections to the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]], the [[Governor of Tamil Nadu|state's governor]] usually invites the party (or coalition) with the majority of seats in the assembly to form the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|government]]. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose [[Cabinet (government)|council of ministers]] are [[Cabinet collective responsibility|collectively responsible]] to the assembly. Given that the chief minister has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no [[term limit]]s.<ref>{{cite book|author=Durga Das Basu|author-link=Durga Das Basu|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|year=1960|pages=241-245|publisher=LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9|quote=Although the text talks about Indian state governments in general, it applies for the specific case of Tamil Nadu as well.}}</ref>

Since 1950, Tamil Nadu has had 14 [[Chief minister (India)|chief ministers]].{{efn|Includes [[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]], who filled in as the chief minister in an acting role twice}} The first four chief ministers belonged to the [[Indian National Congress]], of which [[K. Kamaraj]] held the post for the longest, for more than nine years. With the rise of [[Dravidian parties]] in the state, [[C. N. Annadurai]] of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) became the first non-Congress chief minister in 1969. Annadurai was from the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]], and since his tenure, a significant number of the state's chief ministers have hailed from the industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/m-g-ramachandran-the-first-film-actor-to-become-chief-minister-13043.html|title=M G Ramachandran: The first film actor to become Chief Minister in India|date=14 October 2013|work=[[India TV]]|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120025905/https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/m-g-ramachandran-the-first-film-actor-to-become-chief-minister-13043.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[M. Karunanidhi]] of the DMK succeeded Annadurai, and was the [[List of longest-serving Indian chief ministers|longest-serving]] chief minister, holding the office for nearly nineteen years across five tenures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/m-karunanidhi-the-five-term-chief-minister/article24548707.ece|title=In pictures: M. Karunanidhi, the five-term Chief Minister|date=7 August 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-date=30 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130102026/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/m-karunanidhi-the-five-term-chief-minister/article24548707.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> [[M. G. Ramachandran]] of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) took office in 1977 and served for nearly a decade across three terms.{{efn|The [[President's Rule]] was in effect between 7 February and 8 June 1980.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/chief-ministers-of-tamil-nadu-their-tenures-and-parties-1620292428-1|title=Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|work=[[Jagran Josh]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> In 1987, [[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]] of the AIADMK became the first woman to hold the position of the state's chief minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/feature/janaki-ramachandran-the-first-woman-chief-minister-of-tamil-nadu-who-ruled-for-24-days/424272/|title=Janaki Ramachandran, the first woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu who ruled for 24 days|date=19 May 2020|work=[[ThePrint]]|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120025905/https://theprint.in/feature/janaki-ramachandran-the-first-woman-chief-minister-of-tamil-nadu-who-ruled-for-24-days/424272/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[J. Jayalalithaa]] of the AIADMK became the youngest Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the age of 43 in 1991, and had the second longest tenure, holding the office for more than fourteen years across multiple terms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-five-oaths-of-jayalalithaa/article14335230.ece1|title=The five oaths of Jayalalithaa|date=23 May 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=25 May 2016|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203181643/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/the-five-oaths-of-jayalalithaa/article14335230.ece1|url-status=live}}</ref>

There have been four instances of [[President's rule]] in Tamil Nadu, most recently in 1991. [[C. Joseph Vijay]] of the [[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam]] is the incumbent since 10 May 2026, and is the first chief minister from a non-[[Dravidian party]] since 1967.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly/tamil-nadu-government-formation-tvk-swearing-in-vijay-oath-ceremony-new-chief-minister-live-updates-may-10-2026/article70960233.ece|title=C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Chief Minister|date=10 May 2026|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>

==List==
The [[Madras Presidency]], based at [[Fort St. George]], was a [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|presidency of India]] that was established in 1652 by the [[East India Company|English East India Company]] to be the headquarters of the English settlements on the [[Coromandel Coast]].

The territory under the presidency consisted of the village of Madrasapattinam and its surrounding regions. After a series of wars including the [[Anglo-French wars]], [[Anglo-Mysore wars]], and [[Polygar wars]], and the consequent alliance with the [[Carnatic Sultanate|Nawab of Arcot]], it was expanded to cover the region from the [[Northern Circars]] to [[Kanyakumari|Cape Comorin]], and included present-day [[Tamil Nadu]], the [[Malabar Coast|Malabar region]] of North [[Kerala]], the [[Coastal Andhra|coastal]] and [[Rayalaseema]] regions of [[Andhra Pradesh]], and the [[Bellary]], [[Dakshina Kannada]], and [[Udupi]] districts of [[Karnataka]].

The [[Indian Councils Act 1861]] set up the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Madras Legislative Council]] as an advisory body, without powers, through which the colonial administration obtained advice and assistance from able and willing Indian leaders. However, the members were appointed and not elected by the public. With the enactment of the [[Government of India Act 1919]], the first elected legislature was formed in 1920 after the general elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/government-of-india-act-1919/|title=Government of India Act, 1919|work=Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bengaluru|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=18 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518134448/https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/government-of-india-act-1919/|url-status=live}}</ref> The term of the [[legislative council]] was three years. It had 132 members, of whom 34 were nominated by the governor and the rest were elected.

As per the ''[[Government of India Act 1935]]'', a [[bicameral]] legislature was set up with a legislative assembly consisting of 215 members and a legislative council having 56 members. The first legislative assembly under this act was constituted in July 1937. The legislative council was a permanent body, with a third of its members retiring every three years and having the power to decide on bills passed by the assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/government-of-india-act-1935/|title=Government of India Act, 1935|work=Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bengaluru|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=18 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318142618/https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/government-of-india-act-1935/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1939, the [[Governor-General of India]] declared India's entry into [[World War II]] without consulting the [[Imperial Legislative Council]]. The [[Indian National Congress]] protested by asking all its elected representatives to resign from governments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insightsonindia.com/modern-indian-history/freedom-to-partition-1939-1947/resignation-of-congress-ministers-1939/|title=Resignation of Congress Ministers ,1939|work=InsightsIAS|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=14 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614014904/https://www.insightsonindia.com/modern-indian-history/freedom-to-partition-1939-1947/resignation-of-congress-ministers-1939/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reconstituted after new provincial elections were conducted in 1946.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/cabinet-mission-plan-cabinet-mission-1946/|title=Cabinet Mission Plan (Cabinet Mission, 1946)|work=Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bengaluru|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=16 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216084410/https://www.constitutionofindia.net/historical-constitution/cabinet-mission-plan-cabinet-mission-1946/|url-status=live}}</ref> The governance structure also evolved from a modest secretariat with a single secretary for the public department in 1670 to six departments overseen by a [[Chief Secretary (India)|chief secretary]] by 1920.

{{multiple image
|align = left
|direction = horizontal
|caption_align = center
|image1 = Madras_map_1913.jpg
|width1 = {{#expr: (130 * 600 / 410) round 0}}
|caption1 = [[Madras Presidency]] (1913), the predecessor of modern day [[Tamil Nadu]]
|image2 = India Tamil Nadu locator map.svg
|width2 = {{#expr: (130 * 600 / 410) round 0}}
|caption2 = Present day [[Tamil Nadu]], which has an electorate of 56.7 million<ref name="Vote">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/final-electoral-roll-tamil-nadu-live-updates-february-23-2026/article70665752.ece|title=Tamil Nadu SIR final electoral roll updates: 5.67 crore voters in State after deletion of nearly 70 lakh electors|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=23 February 2026}}</ref>
|image3 = Fort St. George, Chennai 2.jpg
|width3 = {{#expr: (180 * 600 / 410) round 0}}
|caption3 = Since 1920, [[Fort St. George, India|Fort St. George]] has been the Chief Secretariat of Tamil Nadu
}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Color key for political parties
*{{legend|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]|outline=#000000}}
*{{legend|{{party color|Indian National Congress}}|[[Indian National Congress]]|outline=#000000}}
*{{legend|{{party color|Justice Party (India)}}|[[South Indian Liberal Federation]]|outline=#000000}}
{{col-2}}
;Key
*{{note label|RES|RES|RES}} Resigned
*{{note label|†|†|†}} Died in office
*{{note label|§|§|§}} Returned to office after a previous non-consecutive term
{{col-end}}
===Chief Ministers of Madras Presidency===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;"
|-
!rowspan=2|No.
!rowspan=2|Portrait
!rowspan=2|Name
{{nowrap|(Birth–Death)}}
!rowspan=2|Elected constituency
!colspan=3|Term of office<ref name="term">The ordinal number of the term being served by the person specified in the row in the corresponding period</ref>
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Council]] {{small|([[Elections in Tamil Nadu|Election]])}}
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers|Ministry]]
!rowspan=2|Appointed by
!rowspan=2 colspan=2|Political party{{efn|name=party|This column only names the chief minister's party. The state government they head may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; these are not listed here.}}
|-
!Assumed office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
!1
|
|'''[[A. Subbarayalu Reddiar]]''' (1855–1921)
|[[State legislative councils of India|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|17 December 1920
|11 July 1921{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|206 days
|rowspan=2|1st {{small|([[1920 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1920]])}}
|Reddiar
|[[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger]]
|rowspan=3|[[Justice Party (India)|South Indian Liberal Federation]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Justice Party (India)}}
|-
!rowspan=2|2
|rowspan=2|[[File:RajaofPanagall.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=2|'''[[Panaganti Ramarayaningar]]''' (1866–1928)
|rowspan=2|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|11 July 1921
|11 September 1923
|rowspan=2|5 years, 145 days
|Ramarayaningar I
|rowspan=2|[[Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading|Rufus Isaacs]]
|-
|12 September 1923
|3 December 1926
|2nd {{small|([[1923 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1923]])}}
|Ramarayaningar II
|-
!3
|[[File:Psubbarayan.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[P. Subbarayan]]''' (1889–1962)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|4 December 1926
|27 October 1930
|3 years, 327 days
|3rd {{small|([[1926 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1926]])}}
|Subbarayan
|rowspan=2|[[Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax|Edward Wood]]
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{party color cell|Independent politician}}
|-
!4
|[[File:B.muniswaminaidu.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[B. Munuswamy Naidu]]''' (1885–1935)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|27 October 1930
|4 November 1932{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|2 years, 8 days
|rowspan=2|4th {{small|([[1930 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1930]])}}
|Naidu
|rowspan=5|[[Justice Party (India)|South Indian Liberal Federation]]
|rowspan=5 {{party color cell|Justice Party (India)}}
|-
!rowspan=2|5
|rowspan=2|[[File:Raja of Bobbilli 17 February 2011.JPG|100px]]
|rowspan=2|'''[[Ramakrishna Ranga Rao of Bobbili|Ramakrishna Ranga Rao]]''' (1901–1978)
|rowspan=2|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|5 November 1932
|5 November 1934
|rowspan=2|3 years, 151 days
|Rao I
|rowspan=3|[[Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon|Freeman Freeman-Thomas]]
|-
|5 November 1934
|4 April 1936{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|rowspan=3|5th {{small|([[1934 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1934]])}}
|Rao II
|-
!6
|[[File:PTRajan at Meenatchi Amman Temple Kumbabisegam1.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[P. T. Rajan]]''' (1892–1974)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|4 April 1936
|24 August 1936{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|142 days
|Rajan
|-
!(5)
|[[File:Raja of Bobbilli 17 February 2011.JPG|100px]]
|'''[[Ramakrishna Ranga Rao of Bobbili|Ramakrishna Ranga Rao]]''' (1901–1978)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|24 August 1936{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|1 April 1937
|220 days
|Rao III
|rowspan=3|[[Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow|Victor Hope]]
|-
!7
|[[File:K.V.ReddyNaidu.JPG|100px]]
|'''[[Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu]]''' (1875–1942)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|1 April 1937
|14 July 1937{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|104 days
|rowspan=2|1st {{small|([[1937 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1937]])}}
|Naidu
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{party color cell|Independent politician}}
|-
!8
|[[File:Chakravarthi_Rajagopalachari.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[C. Rajagopalachari]]''' (1878–1972)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|14 July 1937
|29 October 1939{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|2 years, 107 days
|[[Chief Ministership of C. Rajagopalachari#First term|Rajagopalachari I]]
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|-
!–
|[[File:Badge of the Viceroy of India.svg|75px]]
|''Vacant'' ('''[[President's rule|Governor-General's rule]]''')
|[[N/A]]
|29 October 1939
|29 April 1946
|6 years, 182 days
|''Dissolved''
|[[N/A]]
|–
|[[N/A]]
|style="background:white;|
|-
!9
|[[File:Tanguturi Prakasam 1972 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[T. Prakasam]]''' (1872–1957)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|30 April 1946
|23 March 1947{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|327 days
|rowspan=3|2nd {{small|([[1946 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1946]])}}
|Prakasam
|[[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|Archibald Wavell]]
|rowspan=3|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|-
!10
|[[File:OP Ramaswamy Reddiyar 2010 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar]]''' (1895–1970)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|23 March 1947
|6 April 1949{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|2 years, 14 days
|[[O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar#As Chief Minister|Reddiyar]]
|[[Archibald Nye]]
|-
!11
|[[File:Kumarasami_raja.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]''' (1898–1957)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|6 April 1949
|25 January 1950
|294 days
|Raja
|[[Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji]]
|}

====Timeline====
{{#tag:timeline|
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id:silf value:rgb(1,0.6,0.5) legend: SILF
id:noparty value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9) legend: IND
id:inc value:rgb(0.09804,0.66667,0.92941) legend:INC
id:vacant value:black legend: Vacant
id:gray1 value:gray(0.8)
id:gray2 value:gray(0.9)

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text: Political Party

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bar:Ramarayaningar
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bar:Rajan
bar:Naidu
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bar:vacant
bar:Prakasam
bar:Reddiyar
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PlotData=
width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar:Reddiar
from:17/12/1920 till:11/07/1921 color:silf text:"[[A. Subbarayalu Reddiar]]" fontsize:10
bar:Ramarayaningar
from:11/07/1921 till:03/12/1926 color:silf text:"[[Panaganti Ramarayaningar]]" fontsize:10
bar:Subbarayan
from:04/12/1926 till:27/10/1930 color:noparty text:"[[P. Subbarayan]]" fontsize:10
bar:Munuswamy
from:27/10/1930 till:04/11/1932 color:silf text:"[[B. Munuswamy Naidu]]" fontsize:10
bar:Rao
from:05/11/1932 till:04/04/1936 color:silf
from:24/08/1936 till:01/04/1937 color:silf text:"[[Ramakrishna Ranga Rao]]" fontsize:10
bar:Rajan
from:04/04/1936 till:24/08/1936 color:silf text:"[[P. T. Rajan]]" fontsize:10
bar:Naidu
from:01/04/1937 till:14/07/1937 color:noparty text:"[[Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu]]" fontsize:10
bar:Rajagopalachari
from:14/07/1937 till:29/10/1939 color:inc text:"[[C. Rajagopalachari]]" fontsize:10
bar:Vacant
from:29/10/1939 till:30/04/1946 color:vacant text:"[[Vacant]] (Governor-General's rule)" fontsize:10
bar:Prakasam
from:30/04/1946 till:23/03/1947 color:inc text:"[[T. Prakasam]]" fontsize:10
bar:Reddiyar
from:23/03/1947 till:06/04/1949 color:inc text:"[[O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar]]" fontsize:10
bar:Raja
from:06/04/1949 till:25/01/1950 color:inc text:"[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]" fontsize:10
}}

===Development after independence===
[[Madras State]], the precursor to the present-day state of Tamil Nadu, was created after [[Republic Day (India)|India became a republic]] on 26 January 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constitutionofindia.net/read/|title=The Constitution of India|work=Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bengaluru|access-date=24 February 2016|archive-date=7 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607103847/https://www.constitutionofindia.net/read/|url-status=live}}</ref> It consisted of present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Kerala]]. The first legislature of the Madras State to be elected on the basis of [[universal suffrage]] was constituted on 1 March 1952, after the [[general elections]] held in January 1952.

The state was split up along linguistic lines in 1953, carving out [[Andhra State]]. Under the [[States Reorganisation Act]], 1956, the states of [[Kerala]] and [[Mysore State]] were carved out of [[Madras State]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/explainer-reorganization-states-india-and-why-it-happened-52273|title=Explainer: The reorganization of states in India and why it happened|date=2 November 2016|publisher=[[The News Minute]]|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-date=15 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515182812/https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/explainer-reorganization-states-india-and-why-it-happened-52273|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the [[Andhra Pradesh and Madras Alteration of Boundaries Act]], 1959, with effect from 1 April 1960, [[Tiruttani taluk]] and [[Pallipattu]] sub-taluk of [[Chittoor district]] of Andhra Pradesh were transferred to Madras in exchange for territories from the [[Chingleput District (Madras Presidency)|Chingelput]] and [[Salem district|Salem]] districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1441671/|title=The Andhra Pradesh And Madras (Alteration Of Boundaries) Act, 1959|date=24 December 1959|work=[[Indian Kanoon]]|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811205424/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1441671/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Color key for political parties
*{{legend|{{party color|Indian National Congress}}|[[Indian National Congress]]|outline=#000000}}
*{{legend|{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|outline=#000000}}
{{col-2}}
;Key
*{{note label|RES|RES|RES}} Resigned
*{{note label|†|†|†}} Died in office
{{col-end}}
===Chief Ministers of Madras State===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;"
|-
!rowspan=2|No.
!rowspan=2|Portrait
!rowspan=2|Name
{{nowrap|(Birth–Death)}}
!rowspan=2|Elected constituency
!colspan=3|Term of office<ref name="term"/>
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Assembly]] {{small|([[Elections in Tamil Nadu|Election]])}}
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers|Ministry]]
!rowspan=2|Appointed by
!rowspan=2 colspan=2|Political party{{efn|name=party|This column only names the chief minister's party. The state government they head may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; these are not listed here.}}
|-
!Assumed office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:Kumarasami_raja.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]''' (1898–1957)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|26 January 1950
|9 April 1952
|2 years, 74 days
|2nd {{small|([[1946 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|1946]])}}
|Raja
|[[Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji]]
|rowspan=6|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=6 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|-
!2
|[[File:Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[C. Rajagopalachari]]''' (1878–1972)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|10 April 1952
|13 April 1954{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|2 years, 3 days
|rowspan=2|[[1st Madras State Assembly|1st]] {{small|([[1952 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|1952]])}}
|[[Chief Ministership of C. Rajagopalachari#Second term|Rajagopalachari II]]
|rowspan=2|[[Sri Prakasa]]
|-
!rowspan=3|3
|rowspan=3|[[File:K_Kamaraj_1976_stamp_of_India_(cropped).jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=3|'''[[K. Kamaraj]]''' (1903–1975)
|[[Gudiyatham Assembly constituency|Gudiyatham]]
|13 April 1954
|12 April 1957
|rowspan=3| 9 years, 172 days
|[[K. Kamaraj ministry#First Ministry|Kamaraj I]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Sattur Assembly constituency|Sattur]]
|13 April 1957
|14 March 1962
|[[2nd Madras State Assembly|2nd]] {{small|([[1957 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|1957]])}}
|[[K. Kamaraj ministry#Second Ministry|Kamaraj II]]
|[[A. J. John]]
|-
|15 March 1962
|2 October 1963{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|rowspan=2|[[3rd Madras State Assembly|3rd]] {{small|([[1962 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|1962]])}}
|[[K. Kamaraj ministry#Third Ministry|Kamaraj III]]
|rowspan=2|[[Bishnu Ram Medhi]]
|-
!4
|[[File:M._Bhaktavatsalam.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. Bhaktavatsalam]]''' (1897–1987)
|[[Sriperumbudur Assembly constituency|Sriperumbudur]]
|2 October 1963
|5 March 1967
|3 years, 154 days
|[[Bhaktavatsalam ministry|Bhaktavatsalam]]
|-
!5
|[[File:CN_Annadurai.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[C. N. Annadurai]]''' (1909–1969)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|6 March 1967
|13 January 1969
|1 year, 313 days
|[[4th Madras State Assembly|4th]] {{small|([[1967 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|1967]])}}
|[[Annadurai ministry|Annadurai]]
|[[Ujjal Singh]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|}
;Change in nomenclature
During the term of the [[4th Madras Assembly|fourth assembly]] on 18 July 1967, the house unanimously adopted and recommended that steps be taken by the state government to secure the necessary amendment to the [[Constitution of India]] to change the name of Madras State to [[Tamil Nadu]]. Accordingly, the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (Central Act 53 of 1968) was passed by the [[Parliament of India]] and came into force on 14 January 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawsisto.com/Read-Central-Act/1279/MADRAS-STATE-ALTERATION-OF-NAME-ACT-1968|title=Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968|date=20 December 1968|work=Lawsisto.com|access-date=1 November 2019|archive-date=3 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203131442/https://lawsisto.com/Read-Central-Act/1279/MADRAS-STATE-ALTERATION-OF-NAME-ACT-1968|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tracing-the-demand-to-rename-madras-state-as-tamil-nadu/article66347708.ece|title=Tracing the demand to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu|date=6 January 2023|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=28 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428184310/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tracing-the-demand-to-rename-madras-state-as-tamil-nadu/article66347708.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, the nomenclature "Madras Legislative Assembly" was changed to "[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]". From 1967 onwards, the strength of the assembly continued to remain at 234 plus a nominated member.

From 1952 to 1986, the state had a parliamentary system of government with two democratically elected houses, the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] and the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]. On 14 May 1986, the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|state government]] passed a resolution to abolish the legislative council in the state, which was then moved and adopted by the house. On 1 November 1986, [[Tamil Nadu]] became a state with a unicameral legislature, and since then, several times, the state government has taken steps to reconstitute the legislative council, but they have failed for so long. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council has not been constituted in the state to date.
{{Col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Legend
*{{legend|wheat|Acting chief minister|outline=#000000}}
;Color key for political parties
*{{legend|{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|outline=#000000}}
*{{legend|{{party color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|outline=#000000}}
*{{legend|{{party color|Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam}}|[[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam]]|outline=#000000}}
{{col-2}}
;Key
*{{note label|RES|RES|RES}} Resigned
*{{note label|†|†|†}} Died in office
*{{note label|§|§|§}} Returned to office after a previous non-consecutive term
{{col-end}}

===Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;"
|-
!rowspan=2|No.
!rowspan=2|Portrait
!rowspan=2|Name
{{nowrap|(Birth–Death)}}
!rowspan=2|Elected constituency
!colspan=3|Term of office<ref name="term"/>
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Assembly]] {{small|([[Elections in Tamil Nadu|Election]])}}
!rowspan=2|[[Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers|Ministry]]
!rowspan=2|Appointed by
!rowspan=2 colspan=2|Political party{{efn|name=party|This column only names the chief minister's party. The state government they head may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; these are not listed here.}}
|-
!Assumed office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:CN_Annadurai.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[C. N. Annadurai]]''' (1909–1969)
|[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]
|14 January 1969
|3 February 1969{{ref label|†|†|†}}
|20 days
|rowspan=3|[[4th Madras State Assembly|4th]] {{small|([[1967 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|1967]])}}
|[[Annadurai ministry|Annadurai]]
|rowspan=4|[[Ujjal Singh]]
|rowspan=4|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|rowspan=4 {{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!style="background:wheat;"|Acting
|style="background:wheat;"|
|style="background:wheat;"|'''[[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]]''' (1920–2000)
|style="background:wheat;"|[[Triplicane Assembly constituency|Triplicane]]
|style="background:wheat;"|3 February 1969
|style="background:wheat;"|10 February 1969{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|style="background:wheat;"|7 days
|style="background:wheat;"|[[First Nedunchezhiyan ministry|Nedunchezhiyan I]]
|-
!rowspan=2|2
|rowspan=2|[[File:M. Karunanidhi .jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=2|'''[[M. Karunanidhi]]''' (1924–2018)
|rowspan=2|[[Saidapet Assembly constituency|Saidapet]]
|10 February 1969
|14 March 1971
|rowspan=2|6 years, 355 days
|[[First Karunanidhi ministry|Karunanidhi I]]
|-
|15 March 1971
|31 January 1976
|[[5th Tamil Nadu Assembly|5th]] {{small|([[1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1971]])}}
|[[Second Karunanidhi ministry|Karunanidhi II]]
|-
!–
|[[File:Emblem of India.svg|75px]]
|''Vacant'' ('''[[President's rule]]''')
|[[N/A]]
|31 January 1976
|29 June 1977
|1 year, 149 days
|''Dissolved''
|[[N/A]]
|–
|[[N/A]]
|style="background:white;|
|-
!3
|[[File:MGR_portrait,_from_2017_Stamp.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. G. Ramachandran]]''' (1917–1987)
|[[Aruppukottai Assembly constituency|Aruppukottai]]
|30 June 1977
|17 February 1980
|2 years, 232 days
|6th {{small|([[1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1977]])}}
|[[First Ramachandran ministry|Ramachandran I]]
|[[Prabhudas B. Patwari]]
|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!–
|[[File:Emblem of India.svg|75px]]
|''Vacant'' ('''[[President's rule]]''')
|[[N/A]]
|17 February 1980
|8 June 1980
|112 days
|''Dissolved''
|[[N/A]]
|–
|[[N/A]]
|style="background:white;|
|-
!rowspan=2|(3)
|rowspan=2|[[File:MGR_portrait,_from_2017_Stamp.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=2|'''[[M. G. Ramachandran]]''' (1917–1987)
|[[Madurai West Assembly constituency|Madurai West]]
|9 June 1980{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|9 February 1985
|rowspan=2|7 years, 198 days
|7th {{small|([[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1980]])}}
|[[Second Ramachandran ministry|Ramachandran II]]
|[[Prabhudas B. Patwari]]
|rowspan=4|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|rowspan=4 {{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
|[[Andipatti Assembly constituency|Andipatti]]
|10 February 1985
|24 December 1987{{ref label|†|†|†}}
|rowspan=3|8th {{small|([[1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1984]])}}
|[[Third Ramachandran ministry|Ramachandran III]]
|rowspan=3|[[Sundar Lal Khurana|S. L. Khurana]]
|-
!style="background:wheat;"|Acting
|style="background:wheat;"|
|style="background:wheat;"|'''[[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]]''' (1920–2000)
|style="background:wheat;"|[[Athoor Assembly constituency|Athoor]]
|style="background:wheat;"|24 December 1987
|style="background:wheat;"|7 January 1988{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|style="background:wheat;"|14 days
|style="background:wheat;"|[[Second Nedunchezhiyan ministry|Nedunchezhiyan II]]
|-
!4
|[[File:VNJanaki.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[V. N. Janaki]]''' (1923–1996)
|''did not contest''
|7 January 1988
|30 January 1988
|23 days
|[[Janaki ministry|Janaki]]
|-
!–
|[[File:Emblem of India.svg|75px]]
|''Vacant'' ('''[[President's rule]]''')
|[[N/A]]
|30 January 1988
|26 January 1989
|362 days
|''Dissolved''
|[[N/A]]
|–
|[[N/A]]
|style="background:white;|
|-
!(2)
|[[File:M. Karunanidhi .jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. Karunanidhi]]''' (1924–2018)
|[[Harbour Assembly constituency|Harbour]]
|27 January 1989{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|30 January 1991
|2 years, 3 days
|9th {{small|([[1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1989]])}}
|[[Third Karunanidhi ministry|Karunanidhi III]]
|[[P. C. Alexander]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!–
|[[File:Emblem of India.svg|75px]]
|''Vacant'' ('''[[President's rule]]''')
|[[N/A]]
|30 January 1991
|23 June 1991
|144 days
|''Dissolved''
|[[N/A]]
|–
|[[N/A]]
|style="background:white;|
|-
!5
|[[File:J Jayalalithaa.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[J. Jayalalithaa]]''' (1948–2016)
|[[Bargur Assembly constituency|Bargur]]
|24 June 1991
|12 May 1996
|4 years, 323 days
|10th {{small|([[1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1991]])}}
|[[First Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa I]]
|[[Bhishma Narain Singh]]
|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!(2)
|[[File:M. Karunanidhi .jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. Karunanidhi]]''' (1924–2018)
|[[Chepauk Assembly constituency|Chepauk]]
|13 May 1996{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|13 May 2001
|5 years
|11th {{small|([[1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1996]])}}
|[[Fourth Karunanidhi ministry|Karunanidhi IV]]
|[[Marri Chenna Reddy]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!(5)
|[[File:J Jayalalithaa.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[J. Jayalalithaa]]''' (1948–2016)
|''did not contest''
|14 May 2001{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|21 September 2001{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|130 days
|rowspan=3|[[12th Tamil Nadu Assembly|12th]] {{small|([[2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2001]])}}
|[[Second Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa II]]
|[[Fathima Beevi]]
|rowspan=3|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!6
|[[File:O. Panneerselvam.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[O. Panneerselvam]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1951)
|[[Periyakulam Assembly constituency|Periyakulam]]
|21 September 2001
|2 March 2002{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|162 days
|[[First Panneerselvam ministry|Panneerselvam I]]
|[[C. Rangarajan]]
|-
!(5)
|[[File:J Jayalalithaa.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[J. Jayalalithaa]]''' (1948–2016)
|[[Andipatti Assembly constituency|Andipatti]]
|2 March 2002{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|12 May 2006
|4 years, 71 days
|[[Third Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa III]]
|[[P. S. Ramamohan Rao]]
|-
!(2)
|[[File:M. Karunanidhi .jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. Karunanidhi]]''' (1924–2018)
|[[Chepauk Assembly constituency|Chepauk]]
|13 May 2006{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|15 May 2011
|5 years, 2 days
|[[13th Tamil Nadu Assembly|13th]] {{small|([[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]])}}
|[[Fifth Karunanidhi ministry|Karunanidhi V]]
|rowspan=2|[[Surjit Singh Barnala]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!(5)
|[[File:J Jayalalithaa.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[J. Jayalalithaa]]''' (1948–2016)
|[[Srirangam Assembly constituency|Srirangam]]
|16 May 2011{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|27 September 2014
|3 years, 134 days
|rowspan=3|[[14th Tamil Nadu Assembly|14th]] {{small|([[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]])}}
|[[Fourth Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa IV]]
|rowspan=6|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|rowspan=6 {{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!(6)
|[[File:O. Panneerselvam.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[O. Panneerselvam]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1951)
|[[Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency|Bodinayakanur]]
|28 September 2014{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|23 May 2015{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|237 days
|[[Second Panneerselvam ministry|Panneerselvam II]]
|rowspan=3|[[Konijeti Rosaiah]]
|-
!rowspan=2|(5)
|rowspan=2|[[File:J Jayalalithaa.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan=2|'''[[J. Jayalalithaa]]''' (1948–2016)
|rowspan=2|[[Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency|Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar]]
|23 May 2015{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|22 May 2016
|rowspan=2|1 year, 196 days
|[[Fifth Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa V]]
|-
|23 May 2016
|5 December 2016{{ref label|†|†|†}}
|rowspan=3|[[15th Tamil Nadu Assembly|15th]] {{small|([[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]])}}
|[[Sixth Jayalalithaa ministry|Jayalalithaa VI]]
|-
!(6)
|[[File:O. Panneerselvam.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[O. Panneerselvam]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1951)
|[[Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency|Bodinayakanur]]
|6 December 2016{{ref label|§|§|§}}
|15 February 2017{{ref label|RES|RES|RES}}
|72 days
|[[Third Panneerselvam ministry|Panneerselvam III]]
|rowspan=2|[[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
|-
!7
|[[File:Edappadi K Palaniswami.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1954)
|[[Edappadi Assembly constituency|Edappadi]]
|16 February 2017
|6 May 2021
|4 years, 79 days
|[[Palaniswami ministry|Palaniswami]]
|-
![[Chief ministership of M. K. Stalin|8]]
|[[File:MKStalin.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[M. K. Stalin]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1953)
|[[Kolathur Assembly constituency|Kolathur]]
|7 May 2021
|9 May 2026
|5 years, 2 days
|[[16th Tamil Nadu Assembly|16th]] {{small|([[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]])}}
|[[M. K. Stalin ministry|Stalin]]
|[[Banwarilal Purohit]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|-
!9
|[[File:C. Joseph Vijay (cropped).jpg|100px]]
|'''[[C. Joseph Vijay]]''' ({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1974)
|[[Perambur Assembly constituency|Perambur]]
|10 May 2026
| ''Incumbent''
|{{age in years and days|2026|05|10}}
|[[17th Tamil Nadu Assembly|17th]] {{small|([[2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2026]])}}
|[[C. Joseph Vijay ministry|Vijay]]
|[[Rajendra Arlekar]]
|[[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam}}
|}

;Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:15
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:200 left:20
AlignBars = late

Colors =
id:inc value:rgb(0.09804,0.66667,0.92941) legend:INC
id:dmk value:rgb(1,0.05098,0.05098) legend:DMK
id:vacant value:black legend:Vacant
id:aiadmk value:rgb(0,0.6,0.2) legend:AIADMK
id:tvk value:rgb(0.62745,0,0) legend:TVK
id:gray1 value:gray(0.8)
id:gray2 value:gray(0.9)

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:26/01/1950 till:$today
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1951
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1951

Legend = columns:4 left:150 top:24 columnwidth:170

TextData =
pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
text: Political Party

BarData =
bar:Raja
bar:Rajagopalachari
bar:Kamaraj
bar:Bhakthavatsalam
bar:Annadurai
bar:Nedunchezhiyan
bar:Karunanidhi
bar:Vacant
bar:Ramachandran
bar:Janaki
bar:Jayalalithaa
bar:Panneerselvam
bar:Palaniswami
bar:Stalin
bar:Vijay

PlotData =
width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar:Raja
from:26/01/1950 till:09/04/1952 color:inc text:"[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]" fontsize:10
bar:Rajagopalachari
from:10/04/1952 till:13/04/1954 color:inc text:"[[C. Rajagopalachari]]" fontsize:10
bar:Kamaraj
from:13/04/1954 till:02/10/1963 color:inc text:"[[K. Kamaraj]]" fontsize:10
bar:Bhakthavatsalam
from:02/10/1963 till:05/03/1967 color:inc text:"[[M. Bhakthavatsalam]]" fontsize:10
bar:Annadurai
from:06/03/1967 till:03/02/1969 color:dmk text:"[[C. N. Annadurai]]" fontsize:10
bar:Nedunchezhiyan
from:03/02/1969 till:10/02/1969 color:dmk
from:24/12/1987 till:07/01/1988 color:aiadmk text:"[[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]] (Acting) " fontsize:10
bar:Karunanidhi
from:10/02/1969 till:31/01/1976 color:dmk
from:27/01/1989 till:30/01/1991 color:dmk
from:13/05/1996 till:13/05/2001 color:dmk
from:13/05/2006 till:15/05/2011 color:dmk text:"[[M. Karunanidhi]]" fontsize:10
bar:Vacant
from:31/01/1976 till:29/06/1977 color:vacant
from:17/02/1980 till:08/06/1980 color:vacant
from:30/01/1988 till:26/01/1989 color:vacant
from:30/01/1991 till:23/06/1991 color:vacant text:"[[Vacant]] (President's rule)" fontsize:10
bar:Ramachandran
from:30/06/1977 till:17/02/1980 color:aiadmk
from:09/06/1980 till:24/12/1987 color:aiadmk text:"[[M. G. Ramachandran]]" fontsize:10
bar:Janaki
from:07/01/1988 till:30/01/1988 color:aiadmk text:"[[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]]" fontsize:10
bar:Jayalalithaa
from:24/06/1991 till:12/05/1996 color:aiadmk
from:14/05/2001 till:21/09/2001 color:aiadmk
from:02/03/2002 till:12/05/2006 color:aiadmk
from:16/05/2011 till:27/09/2014 color:aiadmk
from:23/05/2015 till:05/12/2016 color:aiadmk text:"[[J. Jayalalithaa]]" fontsize:10
bar:Panneerselvam
from:21/09/2001 till:02/03/2002 color:aiadmk
from:28/09/2014 till:23/05/2015 color:aiadmk
from:06/12/2016 till:15/02/2017 color:aiadmk text:"[[O. Panneerselvam]]" fontsize:10
bar:Palaniswami
from:16/02/2017 till:06/05/2021 color:aiadmk text:"[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]" fontsize:10
bar:Stalin
from:07/05/2021 till:09/05/2026 color:dmk text:"[[M. K. Stalin]]" fontsize:10
bar:Vijay
from:10/05/2026 till:end color:tvk text:"[[C. Joseph Vijay]]" fontsize:10
}}

==Statistics==
;List of chief ministers by length of term
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!rowspan=2|Name
!rowspan=2 colspan=2|Party
!colspan=2|Length of term
|-
!Longest continuous term
!Total duration of the chief ministership
|-
!1
|[[M. Karunanidhi]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|6 years, 355 days
|18 years, 360 days
|-
!2
|[[J. Jayalalithaa]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|4 years, 323 days
|14 years, 124 days
|-
!3
|[[M. G. Ramachandran]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|7 years, 198 days
|10 years, 65 days
|-
!4
|[[K. Kamaraj]]
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|9 years, 172 days
|9 years, 172 days
|-
!5
|[[M. K. Stalin]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|5 years, 2 days
|5 years, 2 days
|-
!6
|[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|4 years, 79 days
|4 years, 79 days
|-
!7
|[[M. Bhakthavatsalam]]
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|3 years, 154 days
|3 years, 154 days
|-
!8
|[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|2 years, 74 days
|2 years, 74 days
|-
!9
|[[C. Rajagopalachari]]
|[[Indian National Congress|INC]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|2 years, 3 days
|2 years, 3 days
|-
!10
|[[C. N. Annadurai]]
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|1 year, 334 days
|1 year, 334 days
|-
!11
|[[O. Panneerselvam]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|237 days
|1 year, 106 days
|-
!12
|[[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]]
|[[AIADMK]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|23 days
|23 days
|-
!13
|'''[[C. Joseph Vijay]]'''
|'''[[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam|TVK]]'''
|{{party color cell|Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam}}
|'''{{age in years and days|2026|05|10}}'''
|'''{{age in years and days|2026|05|10}}'''
|-
!Acting
|[[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]]
|[[AIADMK]]/[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
|style="background-color:#80512A"|
|14 days
|21 days
|}

;List by party
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; text-align:center"
|+Parties by total time-span of their member holding [[Fort St. George, India|CMO]] ({{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}})
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!colspan=2|Political party
!Number of chief ministers
!Total days of holding CMO
|-
!1
|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|5 (+1 acting)
|{{formatnum:{{formatnum:{{#expr:{{age in days|1977|06|30|1980|02|17}}+{{age in days|1980|06|09|1988|01|30}}+{{age in days|1991|06|24|1996|05|12}}+{{age in days|2001|05|14|2006|05|12}}+{{age in days|2011|05|16|2021|05|06}}}}}}|R}} days
|-
!2
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|3 (+1 acting)
|{{formatnum:{{formatnum:{{#expr:{{age in days|1967|03|06|1976|01|31}}+{{age in days|1989|01|27|1991|01|30}}+{{age in days|1996|05|13|2001|05|13}}+{{age in days|2006|05|13|2011|05|15}}+{{age in days|2021|05|07|2026|05|09}}}}}}|R}} days
|-
!3
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|4
|6247 days
|-
!4
|'''[[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam]]'''
|{{party color cell|Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam}}
|'''1'''
|'''{{age in days|2026|05|10}} days'''
|}

;Parties by total duration (in days) of holding Chief Minister's Office
{{#invoke:Chart|bar chart
|float = center
|width = 800
|height = 300
|stack = 1
|group 1 = {{formatnum:{{formatnum:{{#expr:{{age in days|1977|06|30|1980|02|17}}+{{age in days|1980|06|09|1988|01|30}}+{{age in days|1991|06|24|1996|05|12}}+{{age in days|2001|05|14|2006|05|12}}+{{age in days|2011|05|16|2021|05|06}}}}}}|R}}:0:0:0
|group 2 = 0:{{formatnum:{{formatnum:{{#expr:{{age in days|1967|03|06|1976|01|31}}+{{age in days|1989|01|27|1991|01|30}}+{{age in days|1996|05|13|2001|05|13}}+{{age in days|2006|05|13|2011|05|15}}+{{age in days|2021|05|07|2026|05|09}}}}}}|R}}:0:0
|group 3 = 0:0:6247:0
|group 4 = 0:0:0:{{age in days|2026|05|10}}
|colors = #009933:#FF0D0D:#19AAED:#A00000
|group names = [[AIADMK]]:[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]:[[Indian National Congress|INC]]:[[Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam|TVK]]
|x legends = AIADMK:DMK:INC:TVK
}}

{{#tag:timeline|
Define $width = 1000
Define $warning = 845 # $width – 155
Define $height = 450 # 13x20 + 160

Define $start = 1878
Define $end = 2030
Define $now = {{CURRENTYEAR}}

ImageSize = width:$width height:$height
PlotArea = right:10 left:19 bottom:60 top:60
Period = from:$start till:$end
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
Legend = columns:3 left:50 top:23 columnwidth:200

Colors =
id:bg value:white
id:lightline value:rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9)
id:lighttext value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
id:LIFESPAN value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: LIFESPAN
id:CM_INC value:rgb(0.09804,0.66667,0.92941) Legend: INC
id:CM_DMK value:rgb(1,0.05098,0.05098) Legend: DMK
id:CM_AIADMK value:rgb(0,0.6,0.2) Legend: AIADMK
id:CM_TVK value:rgb(0.62745,0,0) Legend: TVK
id:NAME value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05)
id:TODAY value:green

BackgroundColors = canvas:bg
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1880

Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar

LineData =
at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1

PlotData=
bar:1 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1898.5178 till:1950.0712 shift:(-74,$dy) textcolor:NAME align:left text:[[P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja]]
color:CM_INC
from:1950.0712 till:1952.2732
color:LIFESPAN
from:1952.2732 till:1957.2055

bar:2 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1878.9425 till:1952.2732 shift:(-55,$dy) textcolor:NAME align:left text:[[C. Rajagopalachari]]
color:CM_INC
from:1952.2732 till:1954.2822
color:LIFESPAN
from:1954.2822 till:1972.9836

bar:3 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1903.5370 till:1954.2822 shift:(-33,$dy) textcolor:NAME align:left text:[[K. Kamaraj]]
color:CM_INC
from:1954.2822 till:1963.7534
color:LIFESPAN
from:1963.7534 till:1975.7534

bar:4 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1897.7726 till:1963.7534 shift:(-57,$dy) textcolor:NAME align:left text:[[M. Bhakthavatsalam]]
color:CM_INC
from:1963.7534 till:1967.1753
color:LIFESPAN
from:1967.1753 till:1987.1205

bar:5 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1909.7068 till:1967.1753 shift:(0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[C. N. Annadurai]]
color:CM_DMK
from:1967.1753 till:1969.0931

bar:6 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1920.5273 till:1969.0931 shift:(0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[V. R. Nedunchezhiyan]]
color:CM_DMK
from:1969.0931 till:1969.1123
color:LIFESPAN
from:1969.1123 till:1987.9808
color:CM_AIADMK
from:1987.9808 till:1988.0191
color:LIFESPAN
from:1988.0191 till:2000.0328

bar:7 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
from:1924.4235 till:1969.1123 shift:(-50,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[M. Karunanidhi]]
color:CM_DMK
from:1969.1123 till:1976.0847
color:LIFESPAN
from:1976.0847 till:1989.0740
color:CM_DMK
from:1989.0740 till:1991.0822
color:LIFESPAN
from:1991.0822 till:1996.3661
color:CM_DMK
from:1996.3661 till:2001.3644
color:LIFESPAN
from:2001.3644 till:2006.3644
color:CM_DMK
from:2006.3644 till:2011.3699
color:LIFESPAN
from:2011.3699 till:2018.6

bar:8 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
from:1917.0466 till:1977.4959 shift:(-65,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[M. G. Ramachandran]]
color:CM_AIADMK
from:1977.4959 till:1980.1311
color:LIFESPAN
from:1980.1311 till:1980.4399
color:CM_AIADMK
from:1980.4399 till:1987.9808

bar:9 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
from:1923.9150 till:1988.0191 shift:(-85,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]]
color:CM_AIADMK
from:1988.0191 till:1988.0820
color:LIFESPAN
from:1988.0820 till:1996.3825

bar:10 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
from:1948.1503 till:1991.4794 shift:(-45,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[J. Jayalalithaa]]
color:CM_AIADMK
from:1991.4794 till:1996.3634
color:LIFESPAN
from:1996.3634 till:2001.3671
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2001.3671 till:2001.7232
color:LIFESPAN
from:2001.7232 till:2002.1671
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2002.1671 till:2006.3616
color:LIFESPAN
from:2006.3616 till:2011.3726
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2011.3726 till:2014.7397
color:LIFESPAN
from:2014.7397 till:2015.3918
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2015.3918 till:2016.9290

bar:11 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1951.0383 till:2001.7232 shift:(-2,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[O. Panneerselvam]]
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2001.7232 till:2002.1671
color:LIFESPAN
from:2002.1671 till:2014.7425
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2014.7425 till:2015.3918
color:LIFESPAN
from:2015.3918 till:2016.9317
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2016.9317 till:2017.1260
color:LIFESPAN
from:2017.1260 till:$now

bar:12 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
from:1954.3616 till:2017.1288 shift:(-75,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]
color:CM_AIADMK
from:2017.1288 till:2021.3452
color:LIFESPAN
from:2021.3452 till:$now

bar:13 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1953.1644 till:2021.3479 shift:(-10,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[M. K. Stalin]]
color:CM_DMK
from:2021.3479 till:2026.3534
color:LIFESPAN
from:2026.3534 till:$now

bar:14 width:20
color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
from:1974.4740 till:2026.3562 shift:(-10,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[C. Joseph Vijay]]
color:CM_TVK
from:2026.3562 till:$now
color:LIFESPAN
from:$now till:$now

TextData =
pos:(320,$height)
fontsize:L
textcolor:black
text:"Lifespan of each chief minister of Tamil Nadu"
}}

==See also==
{{commons category|Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu}}
*[[Elections in Tamil Nadu]]
*[[History of Tamil Nadu]]
*[[List of current Indian chief ministers]]
*[[List of leaders of the house in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
*[[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
*[[List of speakers of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
*[[Politics of Tamil Nadu]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.tn.gov.in/profile_form_cm.php?id=Mjg=&back_type=bWVudV9iYWNr Official Website of the Office of the Chief Minister]

{{Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Chief Ministers of Indian States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Featured list}}
[[Category:Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Lists of chief ministers of Indian states]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in India]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu Legislature]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu politics-related lists]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu