List of Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu From 1920 to 2026

List of Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu (1920-2026): Current CM, Tenure and Party

Explore the complete list of Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu from 1920 to 2026, including tenure, political party, and historical milestones. Essential for UPSC, TNPSC, and general knowledge preparation.

Table of Contents

List of Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is the head of the state government and plays a central role in governance, policy-making, and administration. Tamil Nadu has a rich political history that evolved from the Madras Presidency during the pre-independence era to one of India’s most politically influential states. Over the decades, the state has witnessed the rise of powerful regional parties and iconic leaders who shaped its social, economic, and political landscape.

As of 2026, C. Joseph Vijay is serving as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after taking oath on May 10, 2026. In this article, we explore the complete list of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu from 1920 to 2026, including their tenure, political party, constituencies, and major contributions to the state’s development.

Tamil Nadu New CM 2026

Joseph Vijay sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026, marking a historic political shift in the State. The oath ceremony was held at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium and administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, secured support from alliance partners, including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML to form the government with 120 MLAs. His victory ended decades of alternating rule between DMK and AIADMK. Thousands of supporters and several national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, attended the ceremony.

Check here all about Tamil New Year 2026

List of Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu (1920-2026)

No.	Name	Tenure	Party	Constituency
1	A. Subbarayalu Reddiar	Dec 1920 – Jul 1921	Justice Party	NA
2	Raja of Panagal	Jul 1921 – Dec 1926	Justice Party	NA
3	P. Subbarayan	Dec 1926 – Oct 1930	Independent	NA
4	B. Munuswamy Naidu	Oct 1930 – Nov 1932	Justice Party	NA
5	Ramakrishna Ranga Rao	Nov 1932 – Apr 1936	Justice Party	NA
6	C. Rajagopalachari	Apr 1937 – Oct 1939	Indian National Congress	NA
–	(President’s Rule during WWII)	1939 – 1946	–	–
7	T. Prakasam	Apr 1946 – Mar 1947	Indian National Congress	NA
8	O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiar	Mar 1947 – Apr 1949	Indian National Congress	NA
9	Kumaraswami Raja	Apr 1949 – Apr 1952	Indian National Congress	NA
10	C. Rajagopalachari	Apr 1952 – Apr 1954	Indian National Congress	NA
11	K. Kamaraj	Apr 1954 – Oct 1963	Indian National Congress	Virudhunagar
12	M. Bhaktavatsalam	Oct 1963 – Mar 1967	Indian National Congress	Sriperumbudur
13	C. N. Annadurai	Mar 1967 – Feb 1969	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	Legislative Council
14	V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)	Feb 1969 – Mar 1969	DMK	Triplicane
15	M. Karunanidhi	Mar 1969 – Jan 1976	DMK	Saidapet
–	(President’s Rule)	Jan 1976 – Jun 1977	–	–
16	M. G. Ramachandran	Jun 1977 – Dec 1987	AIADMK	Aruppukottai
17	V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)	Dec 1987 – Jan 1988	AIADMK	Athoor
18	V. N. Janaki Ramachandran	Jan 1988 – Jan 1988	AIADMK	NA
–	(President’s Rule)	Jan 1988 – Jan 1989	–	–
19	M. Karunanidhi	Jan 1989 – Jan 1991	DMK	Harbour
–	(President’s Rule)	Jan 1991 – Jun 1991	–	–
20	J. Jayalalithaa	Jun 1991 – May 1996	AIADMK	Bargur
21	M. Karunanidhi	May 1996 – May 2001	DMK	Chepauk
22	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2001 – Sep 2001	AIADMK	NA
23	O. Panneerselvam	Sep 2001 – Mar 2002	AIADMK	Periyakulam
24	J. Jayalalithaa	Mar 2002 – May 2006	AIADMK	Andipatti
25	M. Karunanidhi	May 2006 – May 2011	DMK	Chepauk
26	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2011 – Sep 2014	AIADMK	Srirangam
27	O. Panneerselvam	Sep 2014 – May 2015	AIADMK	Bodinayakanur
28	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2015 – Dec 2016	AIADMK	Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
29	O. Panneerselvam	Dec 2016 – Feb 2017	AIADMK	Bodinayakanur
30	Edappadi K. Palaniswami	Feb 2017 – May 2021	AIADMK	Edappadi
31	M. K. Stalin (Current)	May 2021 – May 2026	DMK	Kolathur
32	C. Joseph Vijay	May 2026 – Present	Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)	Tiruvallur & Kolathur

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Timeline of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu

1946–1967: Congress dominance
1967: Rise of Dravidian politics (DMK)
1977 onwards: AIADMK vs DMK era
2021–Present: DMK government under M. K. Stalin

Important Facts About Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers

First CM (Madras State): T. Prakasam
Longest Serving CM: M. Karunanidhi
First Woman CM: J. Jayalalithaa
Dravidian Politics Start: 1967 (C. N. Annadurai)

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Political Evolution of Tamil Nadu

Congress Era (Pre-1967)

The early political landscape of Tamil Nadu, then known as Madras State, was dominated by the Indian National Congress. Leaders such as K. Kamaraj and C. Rajagopalachari played a major role in strengthening education, infrastructure, and administrative reforms after independence.

Rise of the Dravidian Movement

The 1967 Assembly Election marked a historic turning point with the rise of regional Dravidian parties. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under C. N. Annadurai defeated the Congress, promoting Tamil identity, social justice, regional pride, and anti-Hindi imposition politics. Later, the AIADMK emerged under M. G. Ramachandran, transforming the State into a Dravidian-party stronghold.

Era of DMK–AIADMK Dominance

From the 1970s to 2026, Tamil Nadu politics was largely shaped by bipolar competition between the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Leaders such as M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa dominated the political landscape for decades through welfare politics, populist schemes, and strong party structures.

Emergence of TVK and New Political Shift (2026)

The 2026 Assembly Election marked another major political transformation with the rise of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by C. Joseph Vijay. TVK’s victory ended decades of alternating rule between DMK and AIADMK, signaling the emergence of a new political phase driven by youth support, coalition politics, and anti-establishment sentiment.

Also Read: List of Presidents of India

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu: Roles and Responsibilities

The Governor appoints the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and holds office for a term of five years, with the possibility of re-election. The CM acts as the head of the state’s executive branch, overseeing the formulation and implementation of policies that impact millions of residents.
The CM is responsible for key decisions in areas like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and welfare programs. Throughout the decades, Tamil Nadu’s political leadership has seen significant transitions, especially between the two dominant political parties:
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and
- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Also Read: List of Prime Ministers of India

First Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Before Independence)

The first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was A. Subbarayalu Reddiar. He served as the Chief Minister from April 1921 to July 1926. However, it’s important to note that the office of Chief Minister, as it exists today, was formally established in 1920 with the implementation of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in British India. Before that, the head of the Madras Presidency was known as the Premier or Prime Minister.
A. Subbarayalu Reddiar was succeeded by Raja of Panagal, who became the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency in July 1926. The terminology changed from “Chief Minister” to “Premier” during that period. Subsequently, the title was again changed to Chief Minister after India gained independence.

In the post-independence era, O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiar became the first Chief Minister of the Madras State (which later became Tamil Nadu) in 1952.

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu: Important Facts

1. First Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

A. Subbarayalu Reddiar was the first Premier of the Madras Presidency in 1920.
Post-independence, C. Rajagopalachari became the first Chief Minister of Madras State in 1952.
M. Karunanidhi became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after the state’s renaming in 1969.

2. Longest Serving Chief Minister

M. Karunanidhi (DMK) holds the record with over 18 years in office across five terms between 1969 and 2011.
He played a pivotal role in Dravidian politics and Tamil cultural development.

3. Only Woman Chief Minister

V. N. Janaki Ramachandran served as the only woman CM for 23 days in January 1988.
She was the wife of M. G. Ramachandran, founder of AIADMK.

4. Notable Political Parties

Justice Party: Early 20th-century party that governed before independence.
Indian National Congress (INC): Dominated till the mid-1960s.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): Founded in 1949, a major Dravidian party.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK): Founded in 1972 by M.G. Ramachandran after splitting from DMK.

5. President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu experienced President’s Rule four times due to political instability:

1980
1976–1977
1988–1989
1991

6. Famous Chief Ministers

M. G. Ramachandran (MGR): Charismatic leader and founder of AIADMK; served from 1977 to 1987.
J. Jayalalithaa: Actress-turned-politician; AIADMK leader known for welfare schemes; served multiple terms from 1991 to 2016.
M.K. Stalin: Current CM (since 2021); son of Karunanidhi, focusing on inclusive growth and social welfare.

7. Tenure Facts

Tamil Nadu has alternated mainly between DMK and AIADMK since the late 1960s.
M.Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa were the most prominent CMs in recent decades.
Interim Chief Ministers like O. Panneerselvam have served briefly during political crises.

8. Role in National Politics

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Ministers have had significant influence on national politics, particularly in the coalition era at the Centre.
K. Kamaraj was a key Congress leader and former Congress President.

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu FAQs

Who is the first lady Chief Minister of Tamilnadu?

The first woman (lady) Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was Janaki Ramachandran. She became the first female Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, although her tenure was short.