# List of chief ministers of Kerala

The chief minister of Kerala is the chief executive of the Indian state of Kerala. De facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form 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.
Following India's independence from the British Raj in 1947, the states' monarchs of Travancore (തിരുവിതാംകൂർ - Thiruvithāmkōr) and Cochin (കൊച്ചി - 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 District (മലബാർ - Malabār) and Kasaragod (കാസർഗോഡ് - Kāsargodə) 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 solely of Malayalam-speaking regions, by merging Cochin, Malabar, and Travancore regions, and the Kasaragod region of South Canara. The first assembly election in Kerala state was held in February–March 1957. The first Kerala Legislative Assembly was formed on 5 April 1957. The Assembly had 127 members including a nominated member. Since then, 12 people have served as the chief minister of Kerala. The first was E. M. S. Namboodiripad of the Communist Party of India, whose tenure was cut short by the imposition of President's rule. Kerala has come under President's rule for four years over seven terms, the last of them in 1982. Since then the office has alternated between leaders of the Indian National Congress and of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). E. K. Nayanar is the longest serving holder of the office for a total of 10 years, 353 days. Pinarayi Vijayan is the incumbent chief minister; his Left Democratic Front government has been in office since 25 May 2016.

## Key

* $^†$ Assassinated or died in office
* $^§$ Returned to office after a previous non-consecutive term
* $^{RES}$ Resigned
* $^{NC}$ Resigned following a no-confidence motion

## Precursors
### List of Diwans

* Arumukan Pillai (1729–1736)
* Nanu Pillai (1736–1737)
* Ramayyan Dalawa (1737–1756)
* Martandan bagavathi Pillai (1756–1763)
* Subbayyan Dalawa (1763–1768)
* Krishna Gopalayyan Iyyer (1768–1776)
* Vadiswaran Subbrahmanya Iyer (1776–1780)
* Mullen Chempakaraman Pillai (1780–1782)
* Nagercoil Ramayyan (1782–1788)
* Krishnan Thampi (1788–1789)
* Raja Kesavadas, also known as Kesava Pillai (1789–1798)
* Odiery Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri (1798–1799)
* Velu Thampi Dalawa (1799–1809)
* Oommini Thampi (1809–1811)
* Col. John Munro (1811–1814)
* Devan Padmanabhan Menon (1814–1814)
* Bappu Rao (acting; 1814–1815)
* Sanku Annavi Pillai (1815–1815)
* Raman Menon (1815–1817)
* Reddy Row (1817–1821)
* T. Venkata Rao (1821–1830)
* Thanjavur Subha Rao (1830–1837)
* Ranga Rao (acting; 1837–1838)
* T. Venkata Rao (second time; 1838–1839)
* Thanjavur Subha Rao (second time; 1839–1842)
* Krishna Rao (acting; 1842–1843)
* Reddy Row (second time; 1843–1845)
* Srinivasa Rao (acting; 1845–1846)
* Vemuri Krishna Rao (1846–1857)
| Name | Took office | Left office | Term |
| T. Madhava Rao | 1858 | 1872 | 1 |
| A. Seshayya Sastri | 1872 | 1877 | 1 |
| Nanoo Pillai | 1877 | 1880 | 1 |
| V. Ramiengar | 1880 | 1887 | 1 |
| T. Rama Rao | 1887 | 1892 | 1 |
| S. Shungrasoobyer | 1892 | 1898 | 1 |
| K. Krishnaswamy Rao | 15 April 1898 | 13 March 1904 | 1 |
| V. P. Madhava Rao | 14 March 1904 | 26 March 1906 | 1 |
| S. Gopalachari | 16 August 1906 | 26 October 1907 | 1 |
| P. Rajagopalachari | 26 October 1907 | 11 May 1914 | 1 |
| M. Krishnan Nair | 11 May 1914 | 7 July 1920 | 1 |
| T. Raghavaiah | 8 July 1920 | 18 May 1925 | 1 |
| M. E. Watts | 1925 | 1929 | 1 |
| V. S. Subramanya Iyer | 1929 | 1932 | 1 |
| Thomas Austin | 1932 | 1934 | 1 |
| Muhammad Habibullah | 1934 | 1936 | 1 |
| C. P. Ramaswami Iyer | 1936 | 1947 | 1 |
| P. G. N. Unnithan | 1947 | 1948 | 1 |

### Prime ministers of Travancore (1948–49)

| No | Portrait | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Term of Office | Assembly | Appointed by (Monarch) | Party | Party |
| 1 | | P. A. Thanu Pillai | 24 March 1948 | 17 October 1948 | 210 days | Representative Body (1948–49) | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress | |
| 2 | | P. T. K. Narayana Pillai | 22 October 1948 | 1 July 1949 | 253 days | Representative Body (1948–49) | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress | |

### Prime ministers of Cochin (1947–49)

| No | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Term of Office | Assembly | Appointed by (Monarch) | Party |
| 1 | P. Govinda Menon | 14 August 1947 | 22 October 1947 | 51 days | 6th Council (1945–48) | Aikya Keralam Thampuran | Independent |
| 2 | T. K. Nair | 27 October 1947 | 20 September 1948 | 334 days | 6th Council (1945–48) | Aikya Keralam Thampuran | Independent |
| 3 | E. Ikkanda Warrier | 20 September 1948 | 1 July 1949 | 284 days | Legislative Assembly (1948–49) | Aikya Keralam Thampuran | Independent |

### Prime ministers of Travancore-Cochin (1949–50)

| No | Portrait | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Term of Office | Assembly | Appointed by (Rajpramukh) | Party | Party |
| 1 | | T. K. Narayana Pillai | 1 July 1949 | 26 January 1950 | 209 days | 1st | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress | |

### 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.
| No | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Term of Office | Assembly | Appointed by (Rajpramukh) | Party |
| 1 | T. K. Narayana Pillai | 26 January 1950 | 28 February 1951 | 1 year, 33 days | 1st | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | C. Kesavan | 28 February 1951 | 12 March 1952 | 1 year, 13 days | 1st | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | A. J. John | 12 March 1952 | 16 March 1954 | 2 years, 4 days | 2nd (1951 election) | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress |
| 4 | P. A. Thanu Pillai | 16 March 1954 | 10 February 1955 | 331 days | 3rd (1954 election) | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Praja Socialist Party |
| 5 | P. Govinda Menon | 10 February 1955 | 23 March 1956 | 1 year, 42 days | 3rd (1954 election) | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma | Indian National Congress |
| – | Vacant (President's rule) | 23 March 1956 | 31 October 1956 | 222 days | Dissolved | N/A | |

## Chief ministers 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.
| No | Name | Constituency | Tenure | Tenure | Tenure | Assembly (election) | Party | Ministry |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 1 November 1956 | 5 April 1957 | 155 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| 1 | E. M. S. Namboodiripad (1909–1998) | Nileshwaram | 5 April 1957 | 31 July 1959 | 2 years, 117 days | 1st (1957 election) | Communist Party of India | Namboodiripad I |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 31 July 1959 | 22 February 1960 | 206 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | P. A. Thanu Pillai (1885–1970) | Thiruvananthapuram II | 22 February 1960 | 26 September 1962 | 2 years, 216 days | 2nd (1960 election) | Praja Socialist Party | Thanu Pillai |
| 3 | R. Sankar (1909–1972) | Kannur I | 26 September 1962 | 10 September 1964 | 1 year, 350 days | 2nd (1960 election) | Indian National Congress | Sankar |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 10 September 1964 | 25 March 1965 | 2 years, 177 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 25 March 1965 | 6 March 1967 | 2 years, 177 days | Dissolved (1965 election) | N/A | N/A |
| (1) | E. M. S. Namboodiripad (1909–1998) | Pattambi | 6 March 1967 | 1 November 1969 | 2 years, 240 days | 3rd (1967 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Namboodiripad II |
| 4 | C. Achutha Menon (1913–1991) | Kottarakkara | 1 November 1969 | 3 August 1970 | 275 days | 3rd (1967 election) | Communist Party of India | Achutha Menon I |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 4 August 1970 | 3 October 1970 | 60 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| (4) | C. Achutha Menon (1913–1991) | Kodakara | 4 October 1970 | 25 March 1977 | 6 years, 172 days | 4th (1970 election) | Communist Party of India | Achutha Menon II |
| 5 | K. Karunakaran (1918–2010) | Mala | 25 March 1977 | 27 April 1977 | 33 days | 5th (1977 election) | Indian National Congress | Karunakaran I |
| 6 | A. K. Antony (b. 1940) | Kazhakkuttom | 27 April 1977 | 29 October 1978 | 1 year, 185 days | 5th (1977 election) | Indian National Congress | Antony I |
| 7 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair (1926–2005) | Alappuzha | 29 October 1978 | 12 October 1979 | 348 days | 5th (1977 election) | Communist Party of India | Vasudevan Nair |
| 8 | C. H. Mohammed Koya (1927–1983) | Malappuram | 12 October 1979 | 4 December 1979 | 53 days | 5th (1977 election) | Indian Union Muslim League | Koya |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 5 December 1979 | 25 January 1980 | 51 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| 9 | E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004) | Malampuzha | 25 January 1980 | 20 October 1981 | 1 year, 268 days | 6th (1980 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Nayanar I |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 21 October 1981 | 28 December 1981 | 68 days | 6th (1980 election) | N/A | N/A |
| (5) | K. Karunakaran (1918–2010) | Mala | 28 December 1981 | 17 March 1982 | 79 days | 6th (1980 election) | Indian National Congress | Karunakaran II |
| | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 17 March 1982 | 23 May 1982 | 67 days | Dissolved | N/A | N/A |
| (5) | K. Karunakaran (1918–2010) | Mala | 24 May 1982 | 26 March 1987 | 4 years, 306 days | 7th (1982 election) | Indian National Congress | Karunakaran III |
| (9) | E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004) | Trikaripur | 26 March 1987 | 24 June 1991 | 4 years, 90 days | 8th (1987 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Nayanar II |
| (5) | K. Karunakaran (1918–2010) | Mala | 24 June 1991 | 22 March 1995 | 3 years, 271 days | 9th (1991 election) | Indian National Congress | Karunakaran IV |
| (6) | A. K. Antony (b. 1940) | Thirurangadi | 22 March 1995 | 20 May 1996 | 1 year, 59 days | 9th (1991 election) | Indian National Congress | Antony II |
| (9) | E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004) | Thalassery | 20 May 1996 | 17 May 2001 | 4 years, 362 days | 10th (1996 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Nayanar III |
| (6) | A. K. Antony (b. 1940) | Cherthala | 17 May 2001 | 31 August 2004 | 3 years, 106 days | 11th (2001 election) | Indian National Congress | Antony III |
| 10 | Oommen Chandy (1943–2023) | Puthuppally | 31 August 2004 | 18 May 2006 | 1 year, 260 days | 11th (2001 election) | Indian National Congress | Chandy I |
| 11 | V. S. Achuthanandan (b. 1923) | Malampuzha | 18 May 2006 | 18 May 2011 | 5 years, 0 days | 12th (2006 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Achuthanandan |
| (10) | Oommen Chandy (1943–2023) | Puthuppally | 18 May 2011 | 25 May 2016 | 5 years, 7 days | 13th (2011 election) | Indian National Congress | Chandy II |
| 12 | Pinarayi Vijayan (b. 1945) | Dharmadam | 25 May 2016 | 19 May 2021 | 8 years, 298 days | 14th (2016 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi I |
| 12 | Pinarayi Vijayan (b. 1945) | Dharmadam | 20 May 2021 | Incumbent | 8 years, 298 days | 15th (2021 election) | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Pinarayi II |

## Statistics

* Communist Party of India (Marxist) 42.05 (42.0%)
* Indian National Congress 37.47 (37.4%)
* Communist Party of India 16.31 (16.3%)
* Praja Socialist Party 4.02 (4.02%)
* Indian Union Muslim League 0.23 (0.23%)

### List of chief ministers by length of term

| No. | Name | Party | Party | Length of term | Length of term | No: of terms |
| No. | Name | Party | 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 | K. Karunakaran | INC | | 4 years, 305 days | 8 years, 315 days | 4 |
| 3 | Pinarayi Vijayan | CPI(M) | | 8 years, 298 days | 8 years, 298 days | 2 |
| 4 | C. Achutha Menon | CPI | | 6 years, 172 days | 7 years, 80 days | 2 |
| 5 | Oommen Chandy | INC | | 5 years, 6 days | 6 years, 256 days | 2 |
| 6 | A. K. Antony | INC | | 3 years, 105 days | 5 years, 347 days | 3 |
| 7 | V. S. Achuthanandan | CPI(M) | | 4 years, 364 days | 4 years, 364 days | 1 |
| 8 | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | CPI(M)/CPI | | 2 years 240 days | 4 years 357 days | 2 |
| 9 | Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | PSP | | 2 years 216 days | 2 years 216 days | 1 |
| 10 | R. Sankar | INC | | 1 year 350 days | 1 year 350 days | 1 |
| 11 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | CPI | | 347 days | 347 days | 1 |
| 12 | C. H. Mohammed Koya | IUML | | 53 days | 53 days | 1 |

### List by party

Political parties by total time-span of their member holding CMO (19 March 2025) :
| No. | Political party | Number of chief ministers | Total days of holding CMO |
| 1 | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 4 | 10025 days |
| 2 | Indian National Congress | 4 | 8813 days |
| 3 | Communist Party of India | 3 | 3834 days |
| 4 | Praja Socialist Party | 1 | 947 days |
| 5 | Indian Union Muslim League | 1 | 53 days |