Chief Minister of Kerala
In the vibrant tapestry of Indian democracy, the Chief Minister of each state stands as its ultimate executive authority, wielding immense power to shape policy and governance. In Kerala, a state known for its unique social development and complex political landscape, this role carries an extraordinary weight and history. Join us as we explore how the office of the Chief Minister came to be, and the remarkable individuals who have steered the destiny of this fascinating southern state. The Chief Minister of Kerala is the de facto head of government, holding true executive power despite the Governor being the de jure head. The modern state of Kerala was formed in 1956 by merging Malayalam-speaking regions, laying the foundation for its distinct political identity. Kerala's political history is marked by a dynamic alternation of power, notably featuring the election of India's first democratically chosen Communist government.
AI Summary
In the vibrant tapestry of Indian democracy, the Chief Minister of each state stands as its ultimate executive authority, wielding immense power to shape policy and governance. In Kerala, a state known for its unique social development and complex political landscape, this role carries an extraordinary weight and history. Join us as we explore how the office of the Chief Minister came to be, and the remarkable individuals who have steered the destiny of this fascinating southern state.
- The Chief Minister of Kerala is the de facto head of government, holding true executive power despite the Governor being the de jure head.
- The modern state of Kerala was formed in 1956 by merging Malayalam-speaking regions, laying the foundation for its distinct political identity.
- Kerala's political history is marked by a dynamic alternation of power, notably featuring the election of India's first democratically chosen Communist government.
The Heart of Kerala's Governance
In India's federal structure, each state has a Chief Minister who acts as its primary leader. While the state's Governor is the constitutional head, the real executive power—the power to govern—lies firmly with the Chief Minister and their cabinet. They are the driving force behind the state's policies and administration, directly accountable to the people through the Legislative Assembly.
After state assembly elections, the Governor invites the party or coalition with a majority to form the government. The Chief Minister is then formally appointed by the Governor, leading a Council of Ministers who are collectively accountable to the Legislative Assembly. As long as they maintain the assembly's confidence, their term typically spans five years, with no limits on re-election.
From Princely States to Modern Kerala
Before India gained independence from British rule in 1947, the regions that would eventually form Kerala were a patchwork of princely states like Travancore and Cochin, alongside areas governed directly by Madras Province. Even then, these monarchies began to institute forms of representative government, often led by a 'Prime Minister' and their council.
The Interim Union: Travancore-Cochin
A significant step towards unified governance came on July 1, 1949, when the princely states of Travancore and Cochin merged to form Travancore-Cochin. This new entity continued to evolve, and by January 1, 1950, it was formally recognized as a state within the nascent Indian Republic, marking a crucial transition period.
The map of India underwent a dramatic redrawing on November 1, 1956, with the States Reorganisation Act. This landmark legislation created states based on linguistic identity. It was then that the Malayalam-speaking regions—Travancore-Cochin, along with the Malabar district and Kasaragod region from Madras State—united to form the present-day state of Kerala.
Kerala's Groundbreaking First Term
With the newly formed state, Kerala held its first assembly election in early 1957. The outcome was historic: E. M. S. Namboodiripad, representing the Communist Party of India, became the first Chief Minister. This marked a monumental moment, as Kerala became the first place in the world where a Communist government was democratically elected to power.
Namboodiripad's initial tenure, however, was cut short. After just two years, his government was dismissed, and "President's Rule" was imposed—a provision allowing the central government to take direct control of a state. This event underscored the complex political dynamics that would define much of Kerala's early history.
A Gallery of Leaders
Since that first pioneering Chief Minister, twelve individuals have held the top office in Kerala. Each has left an indelible mark on the state's development and political narrative. Their terms reflect a vibrant, often turbulent, democratic journey.
Among these leaders, E. K. Nayanar stands out, holding the office for an impressive 10 years and 353 days across three terms, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister. K. Karunakaran, another towering figure, was sworn in four times, showcasing his enduring political influence and ability to return to power.
Kerala has also seen a fascinating range in the age of its Chief Ministers. A. K. Antony holds the record as the youngest, taking office at just 36. On the other end of the spectrum, V. S. Achuthanandan was sworn in at the venerable age of 82, proving that age is truly just a number in the political arena.
The Dance of Ideologies
For decades, Kerala's political landscape has been characterized by a unique alternation of power. Since the 1980s, the office of Chief Minister has largely swung between leaders from the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), reflecting the state's strong two-front political system. This dynamic competition keeps Kerala's democracy vibrant and constantly evolving.
The imposition of President's Rule—where the central government assumes direct administration—has been a recurring feature in Kerala's political story. The state has experienced this seven times, with the last instance occurring in 1982. This reflects periods of political instability or constitutional breakdown, often leading to fresh elections.
Modern Leadership
Today, Pinarayi Vijayan serves as the incumbent Chief Minister, having first taken office on May 25, 2016. He made history by becoming the first Chief Minister from Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term, marking a significant moment in the state's contemporary political narrative.
Tracing the Roots: Pre-Kerala Leaders
To fully appreciate Kerala's present, it's insightful to look at its past. Before the unified state, leaders governed the distinct entities of Travancore, Cochin, and then the merged Travancore-Cochin. These early administrators laid the groundwork for future governance, shaping the administrative culture of the region.
Prime Ministers of Travancore (1948–49)
No Name Term Start Term End Party 1 Pattom A. Thanu Pillai 24 March 1948 17 October 1948 Indian National Congress 2 Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai 22 October 1948 1 July 1949 Indian National Congress These early leaders served during the critical transition period as the former princely state embraced representative government under its monarch, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Their short but impactful tenures helped define the new political landscape.
Prime Ministers of Cochin (1947–49)
No Name Term Start Term End Party 1 P. Govinda Menon 14 August 1947 22 October 1947 Independent 2 T. K. Nair 27 October 1947 20 September 1948 Independent 3 E. Ikkanda Warrier 20 September 1948 1 July 1949 Independent The Kingdom of Cochin also had its own set of Prime Ministers in the immediate post-independence era, guiding the state before its merger. These leaders, often acting as independents, navigated the complexities of self-rule under Aikya Keralam Thampuran.
Chief Ministers of Travancore-Cochin (1949–56)
No Name Term Start Term End Party 1 Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai 1 July 1949 28 February 1951 Indian National Congress 2 C. Kesavan 28 February 1951 12 March 1952 Indian National Congress 3 A. J. John 12 March 1952 16 March 1954 Indian National Congress 4 Pattom A. Thanu Pillai 16 March 1954 10 February 1955 Praja Socialist Party 5 P. Govinda Menon 10 February 1955 23 March 1956 Indian National Congress Following the merger, Travancore-Cochin saw a series of Chief Ministers before Kerala itself was formed. These leaders, primarily from the Indian National Congress, laid further administrative foundations for the unified Malayalam-speaking region, often under the Rajpramukh Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.
A Snapshot of Leadership: The Numbers
Political Party Number of Chief Ministers Total Days in Office Communist Party of India (Marxist) 4 10396 Indian National Congress 4 8813 Communist Party of India 3 3834 Praja Socialist Party 1 947 Indian Union Muslim League 1 53 Looking at the numbers, Kerala's political story is clearly dominated by a few key players. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Indian National Congress have consistently provided the most Chief Ministers and accumulated the longest cumulative tenures, reflecting their deep roots in the state's political fabric.
Longest-Serving Leaders (Individual)
No. Name Party Longest Continuous Term Total Years of Premiership No. of Terms 1 E. K. Nayanar CPI(M) 4 years, 361 days 10 years, 353 days 3 2 Pinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 9 years, 304 days 9 years, 304 days 2 3 K. Karunakaran INC 4 years, 305 days 8 years, 315 days 4 When we examine individual tenures, a few names emerge as giants. E. K. Nayanar's near 11-year total premiership showcases remarkable longevity, while Pinarayi Vijayan's current uninterrupted term highlights a growing trend of stable leadership. These figures represent sustained influence in Kerala's corridors of power, shaping decades of state policy.
Article
Chief Minister of Kerala
The Chief Minister of Kerala is the head of government of the Indian state of Kerala. As per the Constitution of India, the state's governor is the state's de jure head, and the de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits. Usually, the chief minister also serves as leader of the house in the legislative assembly.
Following India's independence from the British Raj in 1947, the states' monarchs of Travancore (Thiruvithāmkōr) and Cochin (Kochi) instituted a measure of representative government, headed by a prime minister and his council of ministers. On 1 July 1949, Travancore and Cochin were merged to form Travancore-Cochin state. The Malabar and Kasaragod region of South Canara, which together constitute more than half of present state of Kerala, had their representatives in the Madras Legislative Assembly. On 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act redrew India's map along linguistic lines, and the present-day state of Kerala was born, consisting of Malayalam-speaking regions, by merging the Malabar, and Kasaragod districts with Travancore-Cochin.
The first assembly election in Kerala was held in February–March 1957, and the first Kerala Legislative Assembly was formed on 5 April 1957. The assembly had 127 members including a nominated member. E. M. S. Namboodiripad of the Communist Party of India, was the first chief minister, and his tenure was cut short by the imposition of President's rule. Since then, 12 people have served as the chief minister of Kerala. E. K. Nayanar held the office for 10 years and 353 days, and is the longest serving holder of the office. Karunakaran was sworn in as the chief minister four times. A. K. Antony was the youngest to hold the office at age of 36 years, and V. S. Achuthanandan was the oldest to be sworn in at the age of 82 years. The state has come under President's rule seven times, with the last of them occurring in 1982. Since the 1980s, the office of the chief minister has generally alternated between the leaders of the Indian National Congress and of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Pinarayi Vijayan is the incumbent chief minister since 25 May 2016, and is the first chief minister from Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term of 5 years.
Predecessors
Chief Minister of Kerala
• † Assassinated or died in office • § Returned to office after a previous non-consecutive term • RES Resigned • NC Resigned following a no-confidence motion
Prime ministers of Travancore (1948–49)
<table><thead><tr><th>No</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Term of Office</th><th>Assembly</th><th>Appointed by (Monarch)</th><th>Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>Pattom A. Thanu Pillai</td><td>24 March 1948</td><td>17 October 1948</td><td>210 days</td><td>Representative Body (1948–49)</td><td>Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai</td><td>22 October 1948</td><td>1 July 1949</td><td>253 days</td></tr></tbody></table>
Prime ministers of Cochin (1947–49)
<table><thead><tr><th>No</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Term of Office</th><th>Assembly</th><th>Appointed by (Monarch)</th><th>Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>P. Govinda Menon</td><td>14 August 1947</td><td>22 October 1947</td><td>51 days</td><td>6th Council (1945–48)</td><td>Aikya Keralam Thampuran</td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>T. K. Nair</td><td>27 October 1947</td><td>20 September 1948</td><td>334 days</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>E. Ikkanda Warrier</td><td>20 September 1948</td><td>1 July 1949</td><td>284 days</td><td>Legislative Assembly (1948–49)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Prime ministers of Travancore-Cochin (1949–50)
<table><thead><tr><th>No</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Term of Office</th><th>Assembly</th><th>Appointed by (Rajpramukh)</th><th>Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai</td><td>1 July 1949</td><td>26 January 1950</td><td>209 days</td><td>1st</td><td>Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Chief ministers of Travancore-Cochin (1950–56)
After India's independence in 1947, Travancore and Cochin were merged to form Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949. On 1 January 1950, Travancore-Cochin was recognised as a state.
<table><thead><tr><th>No</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Term of Office</th><th>Assembly</th><th>Appointed by (Rajpramukh)</th><th>Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai</td><td>26 January 1950</td><td>28 February 1951</td><td>1 year, 33 days</td><td>1st</td><td>Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>C. Kesavan</td><td>28 February 1951</td><td>12 March 1952</td><td>1 year, 13 days</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>A. J. John</td><td>12 March 1952</td><td>16 March 1954</td><td>2 years, 4 days</td><td>2nd (1951 election)</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>Pattom A. Thanu Pillai</td><td>16 March 1954</td><td>10 February 1955</td><td>331 days</td><td>3rd (1954 election)</td><td>Praja Socialist Party</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>P. Govinda Menon</td><td>10 February 1955</td><td>23 March 1956</td><td>1 year, 42 days</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>23 March 1956</td><td>31 October 1956</td><td>222 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table>
List of chief ministers
Chief Minister of Kerala
On 1 November 1956, Government of India enacted the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 by which a new Kerala state was formed by the merger of Travancore-Cochin state with the Malabar district and Kasaragod taluk of South Canara district of the Madras State. The southern part of Travancore-Cochin, Kanyakumari district, along with Sengottai Taluk was transferred to Madras state and the Laccadive and Minicoy Islands were separated from Malabar district to form a new Union Territory. A new Legislative Assembly was also created, for which elections were held in 1957.
<table><thead><tr><th>No</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Constituency</th><th>Tenure</th><th>Assembly (election)</th><th>Ministry</th><th>Party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>1 November 1956</td><td>5 April 1957</td><td>155 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>E. M. S. Namboodiripad</td><td>Nileshwaram</td><td>5 April 1957</td><td>31 July 1959</td><td>2 years, 117 days</td><td>1st (1957 election)</td><td>Namboodiripad I</td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>31 July 1959</td><td>22 February 1960</td><td>206 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>P. A. Thanu Pillai</td><td>Thiruvananthapuram II</td><td>22 February 1960</td><td>26 September 1962</td><td>2 years, 216 days</td><td>2nd (1960 election)</td><td>Thanu Pillai</td><td>Praja Socialist Party</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>R. Sankar</td><td>Kannur I</td><td>26 September 1962</td><td>10 September 1964</td><td>1 year, 350 days</td><td>Sankar</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>10 September 1964</td><td>25 March 1965</td><td>2 years, 177 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>25 March 1965</td><td>6 March 1967</td><td>Dissolved (1965 election)</td></tr><tr><td>(1)</td><td></td><td>E. M. S. Namboodiripad</td><td>Pattambi</td><td>6 March 1967</td><td>1 November 1969</td><td>2 years, 240 days</td><td>3rd (1967 election)</td><td>Namboodiripad II</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>C. Achutha Menon</td><td>Kottarakkara</td><td>1 November 1969</td><td>3 August 1970</td><td>275 days</td><td>Achutha Menon I</td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>4 August 1970</td><td>3 October 1970</td><td>60 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>(4)</td><td></td><td>C. Achutha Menon</td><td>Kodakara</td><td>4 October 1970</td><td>25 March 1977</td><td>6 years, 172 days</td><td>4th (1970 election)</td><td>Achutha Menon II</td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>K. Karunakaran</td><td>Mala</td><td>25 March 1977</td><td>27 April 1977</td><td>33 days</td><td>5th (1977 election)</td><td>Karunakaran I</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td></td><td>A. K. Antony</td><td>Kazhakootam</td><td>27 April 1977</td><td>29 October 1978</td><td>1 year, 185 days</td><td>Antony I</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td>P. K. Vasudevan Nair</td><td>Alappuzha</td><td>29 October 1978</td><td>12 October 1979</td><td>348 days</td><td>Vasudevan Nair</td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td></td><td>C. H. Mohammed Koya</td><td>Malappuram</td><td>12 October 1979</td><td>4 December 1979</td><td>53 days</td><td>Koya</td><td>Indian Union Muslim League</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>5 December 1979</td><td>25 January 1980</td><td>51 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td></td><td>E. K. Nayanar</td><td>Malampuzha</td><td>25 January 1980</td><td>20 October 1981</td><td>1 year, 268 days</td><td>6th (1980 election)</td><td>Nayanar I</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>21 October 1981</td><td>28 December 1981</td><td>68 days</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>K. Karunakaran</td><td>Mala</td><td>28 December 1981</td><td>17 March 1982</td><td>79 days</td><td>Karunakaran II</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>17 March 1982</td><td>23 May 1982</td><td>67 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>K. Karunakaran</td><td>Mala</td><td>24 May 1982</td><td>26 March 1987</td><td>4 years, 306 days</td><td>7th (1982 election)</td><td>Karunakaran III</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(9)</td><td></td><td>E. K. Nayanar</td><td>Thrikaripur</td><td>26 March 1987</td><td>24 June 1991</td><td>4 years, 90 days</td><td>8th (1987 election)</td><td>Nayanar II</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>K. Karunakaran</td><td>Mala</td><td>24 June 1991</td><td>22 March 1995</td><td>3 years, 271 days</td><td>9th (1991 election)</td><td>Karunakaran IV</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(6)</td><td></td><td>A. K. Antony</td><td>Tirurangadi</td><td>22 March 1995</td><td>20 May 1996</td><td>1 year, 59 days</td><td>Antony II</td></tr><tr><td>(9)</td><td></td><td>E. K. Nayanar</td><td>Thalassery</td><td>20 May 1996</td><td>17 May 2001</td><td>4 years, 362 days</td><td>10th (1996 election)</td><td>Nayanar III</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(6)</td><td></td><td>A. K. Antony</td><td>Cherthala</td><td>17 May 2001</td><td>31 August 2004</td><td>3 years, 106 days</td><td>11th (2001 election)</td><td>Antony III</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Oommen Chandy</td><td>Puthuppally</td><td>31 August 2004</td><td>18 May 2006</td><td>1 year, 260 days</td><td>Chandy I</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td></td><td>V. S. Achuthanandan</td><td>Malampuzha</td><td>18 May 2006</td><td>18 May 2011</td><td>5 years, 0 days</td><td>12th (2006 election)</td><td>Achuthanandan</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(10)</td><td></td><td>Oommen Chandy</td><td>Puthuppally</td><td>18 May 2011</td><td>25 May 2016</td><td>5 years, 7 days</td><td>13th (2011 election)</td><td>Chandy II</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td></td><td>Pinarayi Vijayan</td><td>Dharmadam</td><td>25 May 2016</td><td>19 May 2021</td><td>9 years, 304 days</td><td>14th (2016 election)</td><td>Pinarayi I</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>20 May 2021</td><td>Incumbent</td><td>15th (2021 election)</td><td>Pinarayi II</td></tr></tbody></table>
Statistics
Chief Minister of Kerala
<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Name</th><th>Party</th><th>Length of term</th><th>No: of terms</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Longest continuous term</td><td>Total years of premiership</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>E. K. Nayanar</td><td>CPI(M)</td><td></td><td>4 years, 361 days</td><td>10 years, 353 days</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Pinarayi Vijayan</td><td>CPI(M)</td><td></td><td>9 years, 304 days</td><td>9 years, 304 days</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>K. Karunakaran</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>4 years, 305 days</td><td>8 years, 315 days</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>C. Achutha Menon</td><td>CPI</td><td></td><td>6 years, 172 days</td><td>7 years, 80 days</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Oommen Chandy</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>5 years, 6 days</td><td>6 years, 256 days</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>A. K. Antony</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>3 years, 105 days</td><td>5 years, 347 days</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>V. S. Achuthanandan</td><td>CPI(M)</td><td></td><td>4 years, 364 days</td><td>4 years, 364 days</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>E. M. S. Namboodiripad</td><td>CPI(M)/CPI</td><td></td><td>2 years 240 days</td><td>4 years 357 days</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Pattom A. Thanu Pillai</td><td>PSP</td><td></td><td>2 years 216 days</td><td>2 years 216 days</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>R. Sankar</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>1 year 350 days</td><td>1 year 350 days</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>P. K. Vasudevan Nair</td><td>CPI</td><td></td><td>347 days</td><td>347 days</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>C. H. Mohammed Koya</td><td>IUML</td><td></td><td>53 days</td><td>53 days</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Political party</th><th>Number of chief ministers</th><th>Total days of holding CMO</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Communist Party of India (Marxist)</td><td>4</td><td>10396 days</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td>4</td><td>8813 days</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Communist Party of India</td><td>3</td><td>3834 days</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Praja Socialist Party</td><td>1</td><td>947 days</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Indian Union Muslim League</td><td>1</td><td>53 days</td></tr></tbody></table>