List of Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

List of Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

Picture: M.K.Stalin - Current Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

S.No	Name	Tenure	Key Highlights
1	A. Subbarayalu Reddiar	Dec 1920 – Jul 1921	First Premier of Madras Presidency under the dyarchy system (Justice Party). Resigned due to health.
2	Panagal Raja (Rao Bahadur Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar)	Jul 1921 – Dec 1926	Longest-serving Justice Party Premier, focused on communal representation.
3	P. Subbarayan	Dec 1926 – Oct 1930	Independent Premier supported by Swarajists; faced the Simon Commission boycott.
4	B. Munuswamy Naidu	Oct 1930 – Nov 1932	Justice Party Premier during the Great Depression.
5	Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (Raja of Bobbili)	Nov 1932 – Apr 1936 & Apr 1936 – Apr 1937	Justice Party Premier; party faced decline during his tenure.
6	Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu	Apr 1937 – Jul 1937	Interim Premier (Justice Party) before Congress took office after 1937 elections.
7	C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)	Jul 1937 – Oct 1939	First Indian National Congress (INC) Premier; introduced sales tax, temple entry legislation. Resigned protesting India's involvement in WWII.
-	Governor's Rule	Oct 1939 – Apr 1946	Direct rule by the British Governor during World War II.
8	Tanguturi Prakasam	Apr 1946 – Mar 1947	INC Premier; later became the first CM of Andhra State.
Madras State (Post-Independence India)
9	O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar	Mar 1947 – Apr 1949	First Premier/CM after Indian independence (INC); faced post-partition challenges.
10	P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja	Apr 1949 – Apr 1952	INC Chief Minister when India became a Republic.
11	C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)	Apr 1952 – Apr 1954	INC Chief Minister; introduced the controversial 'Modified Scheme of Elementary Education'.
12	K. Kamaraj	Apr 1954 – Oct 1963	INC Chief Minister known as 'Kingmaker'; focused on education (expanded Midday Meal Scheme) and industrial development. Resigned under 'Kamaraj Plan'.
13	M. Bhaktavatsalam	Oct 1963 – Mar 1967	Last INC Chief Minister; faced severe anti-Hindi agitations.
Tamil Nadu (State Renamed in 1969)
14	C. N. Annadurai (Anna)	Mar 1967 – Feb 1969	First Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) CM; legalized Self-Respect marriages, renamed Madras State to Tamil Nadu (effective Jan 1969). Died in office.
*	V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)	Feb 1969 – Feb 1969	Interim CM (DMK) immediately after Annadurai's death.
15	M. Karunanidhi (Kalaignar)	Feb 1969 – Jan 1976	DMK leader's first term as CM; nationalized bus routes, established Slum Clearance Board. Government dismissed.
-	President's Rule	Jan 1976 – Jun 1977	Central government rule imposed.
16	M. G. Ramachandran (MGR)	Jun 1977 – Dec 1987	Founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK); immensely popular actor-politician; introduced Nutritious Meal Scheme. Died in office after three consecutive terms.
*	V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)	Dec 1987 – Jan 1988	Interim CM (AIADMK) after MGR's death.
17	V. N. Janaki Ramachandran	Jan 1988 – Jan 1988	First female CM of Tamil Nadu (AIADMK - Janaki faction); shortest tenure (24 days). Government dismissed.
-	President's Rule	Jan 1988 – Jan 1989	Imposed after instability following Janaki's brief term.
18	M. Karunanidhi	Jan 1989 – Jan 1991	Second term as CM (DMK); provided property rights for women. Government dismissed.
-	President's Rule	Jan 1991 – Jun 1991	Imposed before elections.
19	J. Jayalalithaa (Amma)	Jun 1991 – May 1996	First full term as CM (AIADMK); introduced Cradle Baby Scheme, All Women Police Stations.
20	M. Karunanidhi	May 1996 – May 2001	Third term as CM (DMK); focused on IT development, Samathuvapuram scheme.
21	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2001 – Sep 2001	Second term began (AIADMK); briefly disqualified by Supreme Court.
22	O. Panneerselvam (OPS)	Sep 2001 – Mar 2002	First interim term as CM (AIADMK) when Jayalalithaa was disqualified.
23	J. Jayalalithaa	Mar 2002 – May 2006	Resumed second term (AIADMK) after acquittal; mandated rainwater harvesting, Veerappan killed.
24	M. Karunanidhi	May 2006 – May 2011	Fourth term as CM (DMK); introduced Kalaignar Insurance Scheme, free colour TV scheme.
25	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2011 – Sep 2014	Third term began (AIADMK); launched Amma Canteens, free laptops/mixers/grinders. Convicted in disproportionate assets case.
26	O. Panneerselvam	Sep 2014 – May 2015	Second interim term as CM (AIADMK) during Jayalalithaa's conviction period.
27	J. Jayalalithaa	May 2015 – Dec 2016	Resumed third term, won re-election in 2016 (making it her fourth term technically) (AIADMK). Died in office.
28	O. Panneerselvam	Dec 2016 – Feb 2017	Third interim term as CM (AIADMK) following Jayalalithaa's death. Resigned later.
29	Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS)	Feb 2017 – May 2021	Became CM (AIADMK) after internal party power shifts; focused on infrastructure, Kudimaramathu scheme, managed COVID-19 first wave.
30	M. K. Stalin	May 2021 – Present	Current Chief Minister (DMK). Son of M. Karunanidhi. Implemented schemes like free bus travel for women ('Vidiyal Payanam'), 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam'. (As of April 8, 2025).