Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is not just a figurehead, but the true executive powerhouse of one of India's most culturally rich and politically vibrant states. This office, central to the state's identity, guides policies and shapes the lives of millions, embodying the de facto authority of the government. Join us as we explore the fascinating journey of this pivotal role, from its colonial origins to the dynamic leaders who have held its reins. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu serves as the de facto executive head, wielding significant power despite the Governor being the de jure constitutional head. The office evolved dramatically from its British-era Madras Presidency roots, adapting through constitutional reforms and significant linguistic reorganization. Tamil Nadu's political landscape has been profoundly shaped by a few iconic leaders, with some holding office for exceptionally long periods and others leaving a brief yet memorable mark.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu serves as the de facto executive head, wielding significant power despite the Governor being the de jure constitutional head.
The office evolved dramatically from its British-era Madras Presidency roots, adapting through constitutional reforms and significant linguistic reorganization.
Tamil Nadu's political landscape has been profoundly shaped by a few iconic leaders, with some holding office for exceptionally long periods and others leaving a brief yet memorable mark.

The Apex of State Power

In India, each state has a Chief Minister, essentially its chief executive. In Tamil Nadu, this position holds considerable sway, making the Chief Minister the de facto head of government—the one who truly calls the shots and drives policy.

Constitutionally, the Governor is the state's de jure, or legal, head. However, it's the Chief Minister and their council of ministers who exercise real executive authority, responsible to the Legislative Assembly. After elections, the Governor invites the majority party or coalition to form the government and appoints their chosen leader as Chief Minister.

Once appointed, the Chief Minister's term typically lasts five years, provided they maintain the assembly's confidence. There are no term limits, allowing for extended periods of leadership—a characteristic that has defined much of Tamil Nadu's political history.

From Presidency to State: A Historical Journey

Colonial Beginnings: The Madras Presidency

Our story begins far back in 1653 with the Madras Presidency, an administrative region under British India. Headquartered in Fort St. George, it was a vast territory that encompassed not only present-day Tamil Nadu but also parts of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Initially, the presidency only covered Madrasapattinam and its surroundings. But through Anglo-French wars and alliances, it expanded dramatically, stretching from the Northern Circars all the way to Cape Comorin, becoming a significant colonial power base.

Evolving Governance Structures

The governance structure also grew over time. What started as a modest secretariat with one Public Department secretary in 1670 transformed into six departments overseen by a chief secretary by 1920, reflecting the increasing complexity of administration.

Early legislative attempts began with the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which established the Madras Legislative Council. This was an advisory body, chosen by the colonial administration, offering a platform for Indian business leaders but lacking true power or widespread representation.

True legislative power began to take shape with the Government of India Act of 1919. This led to the formation of the first elected legislature in 1920, with 132 members, a mix of elected representatives and governor-nominated individuals.

Further reforms under the Government of India Act of 1935 established a bicameral legislature—a two-house system—comprising a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. This setup aimed for broader representation and more robust governance, with the first assembly under this act constituted in 1937.

A significant moment arrived in 1939 when India was declared part of World War II by the Governor-General, without consulting local councils. In protest, the Indian National Congress, a dominant political force, ordered its elected representatives to resign from governments across India.

Post-Independence: Madras State and Linguistic Reorganization

After India became a republic in 1950, the Madras Presidency was reorganized into Madras State. This new entity still included parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, but it marked a crucial step towards modern statehood.

The political map of India continued to evolve, and Madras State was reshaped along linguistic lines. In 1953, Andhra State was carved out, followed by Kerala and Mysore State (now Karnataka) under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. This process defined the state's modern boundaries.

The Birth of Tamil Nadu

A landmark change occurred on July 18, 1967, when the Madras Legislative Assembly unanimously recommended renaming the state. This recommendation was adopted by the Parliament of India, and on January 14, 1969, 'Madras State' officially became 'Tamil Nadu'—a name reflecting its unique linguistic and cultural heritage.

From 1952 to 1986, Tamil Nadu operated with a bicameral legislature. However, in 1986, the state government passed a resolution to abolish the Legislative Council, making Tamil Nadu a unicameral state. Though there have been attempts to revive the council since then, it remains un-reconstituted to this day.

Leaders and Legacies: A Gallery of Chief Ministers

Since 1952, Tamil Nadu has seen 12 Chief Ministers, including two acting CMs. The office has been a stage for charismatic leaders who have left indelible marks on the state's political and social fabric.

M. Karunanidhi, from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, holds the record as the longest-serving Chief Minister, with over 18 years in office across multiple tenures. His career was marked by significant policy contributions and a nearly 13-year gap between two of his terms.

J. Jayalalithaa of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) holds the second-longest tenure, a powerful figure who dominated the state's politics for years. Her political mentor, M. G. Ramachandran, a legendary actor, was India's first actor to become a Chief Minister, holding the third-longest tenure.

On the other end of the spectrum, V. N. Janaki Ramachandran, M.G.R.'s wife, holds the record for the shortest tenure, serving a mere 23 days. This brief period highlights the dramatic shifts and power struggles that have characterized Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

Periods of political instability or constitutional breakdown have also led to four instances of 'President's Rule' in Tamil Nadu, where the central government takes direct control. The most recent occurrence was in 1991.

Today, the mantle of leadership rests with M. K. Stalin, also from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He assumed office on May 7, 2021, continuing the legacy of powerful leaders guiding the state of Tamil Nadu.

Party Dominance

The Chief Minister's office has primarily been held by three major parties, reflecting their significant influence in Tamil Nadu politics:

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK): 5 Chief Ministers, holding office for a combined total of over 11,000 days. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): 3 Chief Ministers, with a cumulative tenure exceeding 9,400 days. Indian National Congress (INC): 4 Chief Ministers, accounting for over 6,200 days in power.

Article

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu is the chief executive of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the state's 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.

Since 1952, Tamil Nadu has had 12 chief ministers, 13 including V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, who twice acted in the role. The longest-serving chief minister, M. Karunanidhi from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, held the office for over eighteen years in multiple tenures, while he was the one who had the largest gap between two terms (nearly thirteen years). The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's former general secretary J. Jayalalithaa has the second-longest tenure, and its founder M. G. Ramachandran, the first actor to become the chief minister in India, has the third-longest tenure, while his wife V. N. Janaki Ramachandran has the shortest tenure (only 23 days). There have been four instances of president's rule in Tamil Nadu, most recently in 1991.

The current incumbent is M. K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 7 May 2021.

List

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

The Madras Presidency, headquartered in Fort St. George, India, was a presidency of India that comprised present-day Tamil Nadu, the Malabar region of North Kerala, the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, and the Bellary, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts of Karnataka. It was established in 1653 to be the headquarters of the English settlements on the Coromandel Coast.

The territory under the presidency comprised only Madrasapattinam and its surrounding regions. But, after the Anglo-French wars and the consequent alliance between the English East India Company and the Nawab of Arcot, it was expanded to comprise the region from the Northern Circars to Cape Comorin. 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 by 1920.

The Indian Councils Act 1861 set up the Madras Legislative Council as an advisory body, without powers, through which the colonial administration obtained advice and assistance from able and willing Indian business leaders. But membership was selected (not elected) and was not representative of the masses.

With the enactment of the Government of India Act 1919, the first legislature was formed in 1920 after general elections. 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. Under 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 3 years and having the power to decide on bills passed by the assembly.

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. Then it came back to power in 1946 after new provincial elections.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name (Birth–Death)</th><th>Elected constituency</th><th>Term of office</th><th>Council (Election)</th><th>Ministry</th><th>Appointed by</th><th>Political party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Assumed office</td><td>Left office</td><td>Time in office</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>A. Subbarayalu Reddiar (1855–1921)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>17 December 1920</td><td>11 July 1921[RES]</td><td>206 days</td><td>1st (1920)</td><td>Reddiar</td><td>Frederic Thesiger</td><td>South Indian Liberal Federation</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>Panaganti Ramarayaningar (1866–1928)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>11 July 1921</td><td>11 September 1923</td><td>5 years, 145 days</td><td>Ramarayaningar I</td><td>Rufus Isaacs</td></tr><tr><td>12 September 1923</td><td>3 December 1926</td><td>2nd (1923)</td><td>Ramarayaningar II</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>P. Subbarayan (1889–1962)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>4 December 1926</td><td>27 October 1930</td><td>3 years, 327 days</td><td>3rd (1926)</td><td>Subbarayan</td><td>Edward Wood</td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>B. Munuswamy Naidu (1885–1935)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>27 October 1930</td><td>4 November 1932[RES]</td><td>2 years, 8 days</td><td>4th (1930)</td><td>Naidu</td><td>South Indian Liberal Federation</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (1901–1978)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>5 November 1932</td><td>5 November 1934</td><td>3 years, 151 days</td><td>Rao I</td><td>Freeman Freeman-Thomas</td></tr><tr><td>5 November 1934</td><td>4 April 1936[RES]</td><td>5th (1934)</td><td>Rao II</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td></td><td>P. T. Rajan (1892–1974)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>4 April 1936</td><td>24 August 1936[RES]</td><td>142 days</td><td>Rajan</td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (1901–1978)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>24 August 1936[§]</td><td>1 April 1937</td><td>220 days</td><td>Rao III</td><td>Victor Hope</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td>Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (1875–1942)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>1 April 1937</td><td>14 July 1937[RES]</td><td>104 days</td><td>1st (1937)</td><td>Naidu</td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td></td><td>C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>14 July 1937</td><td>29 October 1939[RES]</td><td>2 years, 107 days</td><td>Rajagopalachari I</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (Governor-General's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>29 October 1939</td><td>29 April 1946</td><td>6 years, 182 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td><td>–</td><td>N/A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td></td><td>T. Prakasam (1872–1957)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>30 April 1946</td><td>23 March 1947[RES]</td><td>327 days</td><td>2nd (1946)</td><td>Prakasam</td><td>Archibald Wavell</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Omanthur P. Ramaswamy Reddiar (1895–1970)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>23 March 1947</td><td>6 April 1949[RES]</td><td>2 years, 14 days</td><td>Reddiar</td><td>Archibald Nye</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td></td><td>P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja (1898–1957)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>6 April 1949</td><td>25 January 1950</td><td>294 days</td><td>Raja</td><td>Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji</td></tr></tbody></table>

Madras State, the precursor to the present-day state of Tamil Nadu, was created after India became a republic on 26 January 1950. It comprised 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. 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 Chingelput and Salem districts.

During the term of the 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. 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 Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. On 14 May 1986, the 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.

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Name (Birth–Death)</th><th>Elected constituency</th><th>Term of office</th><th>Assembly (Election)</th><th>Ministry</th><th>Appointed by</th><th>Political party</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Assumed office</td><td>Left office</td><td>Time in office</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969)</td><td>Member of the Legislative Council</td><td>14 January 1969</td><td>3 February 1969[†]</td><td>20 days</td><td>4th (1967)</td><td>Annadurai</td><td>Ujjal Singh</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Acting</td><td></td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000)</td><td>Triplicane</td><td>3 February 1969</td><td>10 February 1969[RES]</td><td>7 days</td><td>Nedunchezhiyan I</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018)</td><td>Saidapet</td><td>10 February 1969</td><td>14 March 1971</td><td>6 years, 355 days</td><td>Karunanidhi I</td></tr><tr><td>15 March 1971</td><td>31 January 1976</td><td>5th (1971)</td><td>Karunanidhi II</td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>31 January 1976</td><td>29 June 1977</td><td>1 year, 149 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td><td>–</td><td>N/A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987)</td><td>Aruppukottai</td><td>30 June 1977</td><td>17 February 1980</td><td>2 years, 232 days</td><td>6th (1977)</td><td>Ramachandran I</td><td>Prabhudas B. Patwari</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>17 February 1980</td><td>8 June 1980</td><td>112 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td><td>–</td><td>N/A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(3)</td><td></td><td>M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987)</td><td>Madurai West</td><td>9 June 1980[§]</td><td>9 February 1985</td><td>7 years, 198 days</td><td>7th (1980)</td><td>Ramachandran II</td><td>Prabhudas B. Patwari</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Andipatti</td><td>10 February 1985</td><td>24 December 1987[†]</td><td>8th (1984)</td><td>Ramachandran III</td><td>S. L. Khurana</td></tr><tr><td>Acting</td><td></td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000)</td><td>Athoor</td><td>24 December 1987</td><td>7 January 1988[RES]</td><td>14 days</td><td>Nedunchezhiyan II</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>V. N. Janaki Ramachandran (1923–1996)</td><td>did not contest</td><td>7 January 1988</td><td>30 January 1988</td><td>23 days</td><td>Janaki</td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>30 January 1988</td><td>26 January 1989</td><td>362 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td><td>–</td><td>N/A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(2)</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018)</td><td>Harbour</td><td>27 January 1989[§]</td><td>30 January 1991</td><td>2 years, 3 days</td><td>9th (1989)</td><td>Karunanidhi III</td><td>P. C. Alexander</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>–</td><td></td><td>Vacant (President's rule)</td><td>N/A</td><td>30 January 1991</td><td>23 June 1991</td><td>144 days</td><td>Dissolved</td><td>N/A</td><td>–</td><td>N/A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016)</td><td>Bargur</td><td>24 June 1991</td><td>12 May 1996</td><td>4 years, 323 days</td><td>10th (1991)</td><td>Jayalalithaa I</td><td>Bhishma Narain Singh</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(2)</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018)</td><td>Chepauk</td><td>13 May 1996[§]</td><td>13 May 2001</td><td>5 years</td><td>11th (1996)</td><td>Karunanidhi IV</td><td>Marri Chenna Reddy</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016)</td><td>did not contest</td><td>14 May 2001[§]</td><td>21 September 2001[RES]</td><td>130 days</td><td>12th (2001)</td><td>Jayalalithaa II</td><td>Fathima Beevi</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td></td><td>O. Panneerselvam (b. 1951)</td><td>Periyakulam</td><td>21 September 2001</td><td>2 March 2002[RES]</td><td>162 days</td><td>Panneerselvam I</td><td>C. Rangarajan</td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016)</td><td>Andipatti</td><td>2 March 2002[§]</td><td>12 May 2006</td><td>4 years, 71 days</td><td>Jayalalithaa III</td><td>P. S. Ramamohan Rao</td></tr><tr><td>(2)</td><td></td><td>M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018)</td><td>Chepauk</td><td>13 May 2006[§]</td><td>15 May 2011</td><td>5 years, 2 days</td><td>13th (2006)</td><td>Karunanidhi V</td><td>Surjit Singh Barnala</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016)</td><td>Srirangam</td><td>16 May 2011[§]</td><td>27 September 2014</td><td>3 years, 134 days</td><td>14th (2011)</td><td>Jayalalithaa IV</td><td>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>(6)</td><td></td><td>O. Panneerselvam (b. 1951)</td><td>Bodinayakanur</td><td>28 September 2014[§]</td><td>23 May 2015[RES]</td><td>237 days</td><td>Panneerselvam II</td><td>Konijeti Rosaiah</td></tr><tr><td>(5)</td><td></td><td>J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016)</td><td>Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar</td><td>23 May 2015[§]</td><td>22 May 2016</td><td>1 year, 196 days</td><td>Jayalalithaa V</td></tr><tr><td>23 May 2016</td><td>5 December 2016[†]</td><td>15th (2016)</td><td>Jayalalithaa VI</td></tr><tr><td>(6)</td><td></td><td>O. Panneerselvam (b. 1951)</td><td>Bodinayakanur</td><td>6 December 2016[§]</td><td>15 February 2017[RES]</td><td>72 days</td><td>Panneerselvam III</td><td>C. Vidyasagar Rao</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami (b. 1954)</td><td>Edappadi</td><td>16 February 2017</td><td>6 May 2021</td><td>4 years, 79 days</td><td>Palaniswami</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td></td><td>M. K. Stalin (b. 1953)</td><td>Kolathur</td><td>7 May 2021</td><td>Incumbent</td><td>4 years, 302 days</td><td>16th (2021)</td><td>Stalin</td><td>Banwarilal Purohit</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Statistics

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Name</th><th>Party</th><th>Length of term</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Longest continuous duration</td><td>Total duration of chief ministership</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>M. Karunanidhi</td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>6 years, 355 days</td><td>18 years, 360 days</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>J. Jayalalithaa</td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>4 years, 323 days</td><td>14 years, 124 days</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>M. G. Ramachandran</td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>7 years, 198 days</td><td>10 years, 65 days</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>K. Kamaraj</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>9 years, 172 days</td><td>9 years, 172 days</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>M. K. Stalin</td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>4 years, 302 days</td><td>4 years, 302 days</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>4 years, 79 days</td><td>4 years, 79 days</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>M. Bhakthavatsalam</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>3 years, 154 days</td><td>3 years, 154 days</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>2 years, 74 days</td><td>2 years, 74 days</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>C. Rajagopalachari</td><td>INC</td><td></td><td>2 years, 3 days</td><td>2 years, 3 days</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>C. N. Annadurai</td><td>DMK</td><td></td><td>1 year, 334 days</td><td>1 year, 334 days</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>O. Panneerselvam</td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>237 days</td><td>1 year, 106 days</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>V. N. Janaki Ramachandran</td><td>AIADMK</td><td></td><td>23 days</td><td>23 days</td></tr><tr><td>Acting</td><td>V. R. Nedunchezhiyan</td><td>AIADMK/DMK</td><td></td><td>14 days</td><td>21 days</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>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>5 (+1 acting)</td><td>11004 days</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</td><td>3 (+1 acting)</td><td>9403 days</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Indian National Congress</td><td>4</td><td>6247 days</td></tr></tbody></table>

Parties by total duration (in days) of holding Chief Minister's Office: