Since 1952, Tamil Nadu has had 12 Chief Ministers, with V. R. Nedunchezhiyan serving twice as acting CM. M. Karunanidhi of the DMK holds the record as the longest-serving CM, with over 18 years in office across multiple terms and a 13-year gap between two tenures. J. Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK has the second-longest tenure, followed by the party’s founder, M. G. Ramachandran, the first actor to become an Indian CM. V. N. Janaki Ramachandran, MGR’s wife, holds the shortest tenure, serving only 23 days.
| Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Assembly (Election) | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office |
| 1 | 1st (1952) | C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) | 10 April 1952 – 13 April 1954 |
| 2 | 1st (1952) | K. Kamaraj (1903–1975) | 13 April 1954 – 12 April 1957 |
| 2nd (1957) | K. Kamaraj (1903–1975) | 13 April 1957 – 14 March 1962 | |
| 3rd (1962) | K. Kamaraj (1903–1975) | 15 March 1962 – 2 October 1963 | |
| 3 | 3rd (1962) | M. Bhakthavatsalam (1897–1987) | 2 October 1963 – 5 March 1967 |
| 4 | 4th (1967) | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) | 6 March 1967 – 3 February 1969 |
| Acting | 4th (1967) | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000) | 3 February 1969 – 10 February 1969 |
| 5 | 4th (1967) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | 10 February 1969 – 14 March 1971 |
| 5th (1971) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | 15 March 1971 – 31 January 1976 | |
| – | Dissolved | Vacant (President’s rule) | 31 January 1976 – 29 June 1977 |
| 6 | 6th (1977) | M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987) | 30 June 1977 – 17 February 1980 |
| – | Dissolved | Vacant (President’s rule) | 17 February 1980 – 8 June 1980 |
| 7th (1980) | M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987) | 9 June 1980 – 9 February 1985 | |
| 8th (1984) | M. G. Ramachandran (1917–1987) | 10 February 1985 – 24 December 1987 | |
| Acting | 8th (1984) | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000) | 24 December 1987 – 7 January 1988 |
| 7 | 8th (1984) | V. N. Janaki Ramachandran (1923–1996) | 7 January 1988 – 30 January 1988 |
| – | Dissolved | Vacant (President’s rule) | 30 January 1988 – 26 January 1989 |
| 9th (1989) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | 27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991 | |
| – | Dissolved | Vacant (President’s rule) | 30 January 1991 – 23 June 1991 |
| 8 | 10th (1991) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 24 June 1991 – 12 May 1996 |
| 11th (1996) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | 13 May 1996 – 13 May 2001 | |
| 12th (2001) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 14 May 2001 – 21 September 2001 | |
| 9 | 12th (2001) | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | 21 September 2001 – 2 March 2002 |
| 12th (2001) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 2 March 2002 – 12 May 2006 | |
| 13th (2006) | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) | 13 May 2006 – 15 May 2011 | |
| 14th (2011) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 16 May 2011 – 27 September 2014 | |
| 14th (2011) | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | 28 September 2014 – 23 May 2015 | |
| 14th (2011) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 23 May 2015 – 22 May 2016 | |
| 15th (2016) | J. Jayalalithaa (1948–2016) | 23 May 2016 – 5 December 2016 | |
| 15th (2016) | O. Panneerselvam (1951–) | 6 December 2016 – 15 February 2017 | |
| 10 | 15th (2016) | Edappadi K. Palaniswami (1954–) | 16 February 2017 – 6 May 2021 |
| 11 | 16th (2021) | M. K. Stalin (1953–) | 7 May 2021 – Incumbent |