List of chief ministers of Punjab ( India ) - wikipedia List of chief ministers of Punjab ( India ) Not to be confused with Chief Minister of Punjab ( Pakistan ). Chief Minister of Punjab Seal of Punjab Incumbent Captain Amarinder Singh since 16 March 2017 Appointer Governor of Punjab Inaugural holder Gopi Chand Bhargava Formation 15 August 1947 The Chief Minister of Punjab, a north Indian state, is the head of the Government of Punjab. As per the Constitution of India, the Governor of Punjab is the state 's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Punjab 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. In 1935 the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, 1935 which created the Punjab Legislative Council, the first elections for which were held in 1937. In these elections, the Unionist Party won 95 seats and its leader Sir Sikander Hayat Khan formed the government and became the first Premier of Punjab. Since 1947, Punjab has had fifteen chief ministers. The first was Gopi Chand Bhargava of the Indian National Congress party, who was sworn - in on 15 August 1947, when India gained independence from the British. He was succeeded by fellow Congressman Bhim Sen Sachar, who was then subsequently replaced after 188 days by former Chief Minister Gopi Chand Bhargava. After a brief term, President Rajendra Prasad placed the Punjab Legislative Assembly under suspension for ninth months to help the state government gets its act together. In 1952, the first state elections took place for the Legislative Assembly. The results of the election saw the return of the Congress government with former Chief Minister Bhim Sen Sachar as its leader. After he resigned in 1956, Partap Singh Kairon became chief minister. Serving until 1964, Khairon remain 's one of Punjab 's longest - serving chief ministers. He was followed by the returning Chief Minister Gopi Chand Bhargava, who briefly held office as acting chief minister for only 15 days. In July 1964, Ram Kishan assumed the office and served for two years. His tenure was followed by the President 's rule which lasted for 119 days. During this time, the state of Haryana was separated from Punjab. The first chief minister of the newly re-configured state was Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir who led a Congress government from the Vidhan Parishad, one of only two to have done so. In the 1967 elections, he was voted out of power in favour of the Akali Das Sant Fateh Singh Group whose leader Gurnam Singh became the first non-Congress chief minister. Gurnam Singh 's government was succeeded by three short - lived Akali Dal governments -- Lachhman Singh Gill 's government for less than a year and for a little more than a year under the returning Gurnam Singh and Parkash Singh Badal. After 272 days under President 's rule, the Congress party returned to power under future President Zail Singh. In 1977, Parkash Singh Badal became the chief minister for the second time. Darbara Singh became chief minister in 1980 and remained in office for three years before a long period under President 's rule. A brief interlude under Surjit Singh Barnala followed, after which three Congress - led governments took office -- led by Beant Singh from 1992 to 1995, Harcharan Singh Brar from 1995 to 1996 and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from 1996 to 1997. Upon taking office, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal became the first female chief minister of Punjab and overall the 8th female chief minister in India. Parkash Singh Badal assumed office for the third time in 1997 and became the first chief minister, since Kairon 's resignation in 1964, to serve a full term. Badal was succeeded by Congressman Amarinder Singh, who also successfully served a full term. The incumbent Chief Minister of Punjab is Captain Amarinder Singh who is heading an Indian National Congress government since 16 March 2017. Contents 1 Key 2 Chief Ministers of Punjab 3 Notes & References 4 External links Key Colour key for party of the chief minister Indian National Congress designated Indian National Congress ( I ) 1977 -- 1996 Shiromani Akali Dal divided into Akali Das Sant Fateh Singh Group and Akali Dal Master Tara Singh Group for 1967 elections Other key No : Incumbent number Assassinated or died in office Returned to office after a previous term Resigned Chief Ministers of Punjab No Name ( birth -- death ) ; constituency Portrait Party Term of office Elections ( Vidhan Sabha ) Appointed by ( Governor ) Gopi Chand Bhargava ( 1889 -- 1966 ) MLA for Pundri Indian National Congress 15 August 1947 13 April 1949 7002607000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 241 days -- Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi Bhim Sen Sachar ( 1894 -- 1978 ) MLA for Ludhiana City South Indian National Congress 13 April 1949 18 October 1949 7002188000000000000 ♠ 188 days -- ( 1 ) Gopi Chand Bhargava ( 1889 -- 1966 ) MLA for Pundri Indian National Congress 18 October 1949 20 June 1951 7002610000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 245 days -- - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 20 June 1951 17 April 1952 7002302000000000000 ♠ 302 days -- Rajendra Prasad ( 2 ) Bhim Sen Sachar ( 1894 -- 1978 ) MLA for Ludhiana City South Indian National Congress 17 April 1952 23 January 1956 7003137600000000000 ♠ 3 years, 281 days 1952 ( 1st ) Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi Partap Singh Kairon ( 1901 -- 1965 ) MLA for Sujanpur Indian National Congress 23 January 1956 21 June 1964 7003307200000000000 ♠ 8 years, 150 days -- ( 1st ) Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh 1957 ( 2nd ) 1962 ( 3rd ) Narhar Vishnu Gadgil ( 1 ) Gopi Chand Bhargava ( 1889 -- 1966 ) MLC in Vidhan Parishad Indian National Congress 21 June 1964 6 July 1964 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 days -- ( 3rd ) Hafiz Mohamad Ibrahim Ram Kishan MLA for Jullundur City North East Indian National Congress 7 July 1964 5 July 1966 7002728000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 363 days -- ( 3rd ) - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 5 July 1966 1 November 1966 7002119000000000000 ♠ 119 days -- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Chief Minister of Punjab ( After separation of Haryana ) Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir ( 1899 -- 1976 ) MLC in Vidhan Parishad Indian National Congress 1 November 1966 8 March 1967 7002127000000000000 ♠ 127 days -- ( 3rd ) Dharma Vira 6 Gurnam Singh ( 1899 -- 1973 ) MLA for Qila Raipur Shiromani Akali Dal - Sant Fateh Singh Group 8 March 1967 25 November 1967 7002262000000000000 ♠ 262 days 1967 ( 4th ) 7 Lachhman Singh Gill ( 1917 -- 1969 ) MLA for Dharamkot Shiromani Akali Dal 25 November 1967 23 August 1968 7002272000000000000 ♠ 272 days -- ( 4th ) D.C. Pavate - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 23 August 1968 17 February 1969 7002178000000000000 ♠ 178 days -- Zakir Hussain ( 6 ) Gurnam Singh ( 1899 -- 1973 ) MLA for Qila Raipur Shiromani Akali Dal 17 February 1969 27 March 1970 7002403000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 38 days 1969 ( 5th ) D.C. Pavate 8 Parkash Singh Badal ( born 1927 ) MLA for Giddarbaha Shiromani Akali Dal 27 March 1970 14 June 1971 7002444000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 79 days -- ( 5th ) - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 14 June 1971 17 March 1972 7002277000000000000 ♠ 277 days -- Varahagiri Venkata Giri 9 Zail Singh ( 1916 -- 1994 ) MLA for Anandpur Sahib Indian National Congress 17 March 1972 30 April 1977 7003187000000000000 ♠ 5 years, 44 days 1972 ( 6th ) D.C. Pavate - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 30 April 1977 20 June 1977 7001510000000000000 ♠ 51 days -- B.D. Jatti ( 8 ) Parkash Singh Badal ( born 1927 ) MLA for Giddarbaha Shiromani Akali Dal 20 June 1977 17 February 1980 7002972000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 242 days 1977 ( 7th ) Mahendra Mohan Choudhry - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 17 February 1980 6 June 1980 7002110000000000000 ♠ 110 days -- Neelam Sanjiva Reddy 10 Darbara Singh ( 1916 -- 1990 ) MLA for Nakodar Indian National Congress ( I ) 6 June 1980 10 October 7003122100000000000 ♠ 3 years, 126 days 1980 ( 8th ) Jaisukh lal Hathi - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 10 October 29 September 1985 7002720000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 354 days -- Zail Singh 11 Surjit Singh Barnala ( 1925 -- 2017 ) MLA for Barnala Shiromani Akali Dal 29 September 1985 11 June 7002620000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 255 days 1985 ( 9th ) Arjun Singh - Vacant ( President 's rule ) None 11 June 25 February 1992 7003172000000000000 ♠ 4 years, 259 days -- Zail Singh 12 Beant Singh ( 1922 -- 1995 ) MLA for Jalandhar Cantonment Indian National Congress ( I ) 25 February 1992 31 August 1995 7003128300000000000 ♠ 3 years, 187 days 1992 ( 10th ) Surendra Nath 13 Harcharan Singh Brar ( 1922 -- 2009 ) MLA for Muktsar Indian National Congress ( I ) 31 August 1995 21 November 7002448000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 82 days -- ( 10th ) B.K.N. Chhibber 14 Rajinder Kaur Bhattal ( born 1945 ) MLA for Lehra Indian National Congress ( I ) 21 November 11 February 1997 7001820000000000000 ♠ 82 days -- ( 10th ) ( 8 ) Parkash Singh Badal ( born 1927 ) MLA for Lambi Shiromani Akali Dal 12 February 1997 26 February 2002 7003184000000000000 ♠ 5 years, 14 days 1997 ( 11th ) 15 Amarinder Singh ( born 1942 ) MLA for Patiala Town Indian National Congress 26 February 2002 1 March 2007 7003182900000000000 ♠ 5 years, 3 days 2002 ( 12th ) J.F.R. Jacob ( 8 ) Parkash Singh Badal ( born 1927 ) MLA for Lambi Shiromani Akali Dal 1 March 2007 16 March 2017 7003366800000000000 ♠ 10 years, 15 days 2007 ( 13th ) Sunith Francis Rodrigues 2012 ( 14th ) Shivraj Patil ( 15 ) Amarinder Singh ( born 1942 ) MLA for Patiala Town Indian National Congress 16 March 2017 Incumbent 7002208000000000000 ♠ 208 days 2017 ( 15th ) V.P. Singh Badnore Notes & references Notes Jump up ^ This column only names the chief minister 's party. The state government he heads may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents ; these are not listed here. ^ Jump up to : President 's rule may be imposed when the `` government in a state is not able to function as per the Constitution '', which often happens because no party or coalition has a majority in the assembly. When President 's rule is in force in a state, its council of ministers stands dissolved. The office of chief minister thus lies vacant, and the administration is taken over by the governor, who functions on behalf of the central government. At times, the legislative assembly also stands dissolved. References Jump up ^ Durga Das Basu. Introduction to the Constitution of India. 1960. 20th Edition, 2011 Reprint. pp. 241, 245. LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur. ISBN 978 - 81 - 8038 - 559 - 9. Note : although the text talks about Indian state governments in general, it applies for the specific case of Punjab as well. Jump up ^ First Chief Minister of Punjab Jump up ^ `` Indian National Congress ''. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 22 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Shiromani Akali Dal ''. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 22 April 2015. Jump up ^ Amberish K. Diwanji. `` A dummy 's guide to President 's rule ''. Rediff.com. 15 March 2005. External links https://web.archive.org/web/20070213075808/http://punjabassembly.nic.in/members/showcm.asp Lists of chief ministers of Indian states ( and current incumbents ) Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu Assam Sarbananda Sonowal Bihar Nitish Kumar Chhattisgarh Raman Singh Delhi Arvind Kejriwal Goa Manohar Parrikar Gujarat Vijay Rupani Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti Jharkhand Raghubar Das Karnataka Siddaramaiah Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis Manipur N. Biren Singh Meghalaya Mukul Sangma Mizoram Lal Thanhawla Nagaland T.R. Zeliang Odisha Naveen Patnaik Puducherry V. Narayanasamy Punjab Amarinder Singh Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao Tripura Manik Sarkar Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat West Bengal Mamata Banerjee Women chief ministers From the Bharatiya Janata Party From the Communist Party of India ( Marxist ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Chief_Ministers_of_Punjab_(India)&oldid=791971271 '' Categories : Lists of Chief Ministers of Indian states Chief Ministers of Punjab, India Punjab, India - related lists Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from April 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch हिन्दी Bahasa Indonesia ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം मराठी ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی தமிழ் తెలుగు Edit links This page was last edited on 23 July 2017, at 16 : 52. 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Question: who was the first chief minister of punjab after independence
Answer: Gopi Chand Bhargava