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List of chief ministers of Kerala facts for kids

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Chief minister of Kerala
Government of Kerala Logo.svg
Emblem of Kerala
Pinarayi Vijayan 1.jpg
Incumbent
Pinarayi Vijayan

since 25 May 2016
Chief minister's office
Style The Honourable (Formal)
Mr./Mrs. Chief Minister (Informal)
Abbreviation CM
Member of
  • Cabinet
  • Kerala Legislative Assembly
Reports to
Residence Cliff House, Thiruvananthapuram
Seat Kerala Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
Appointer Governor of Kerala
Term length At the pleasure of the governor of Kerala
Precursor Prime minister of Travancore
Prime minister of Kingdom of Cochin
Chief minister of Madras
Chief ministers of Travancore-Cochin
Inaugural holder E. M. S. Namboodiripad (1957–1959)
Formation 5 April 1957; 68 years ago (1957-04-05)
Deputy Vacant
Salary
  • 185,000 (US$3,100)/monthly
  • 2,220,000 (US$38,000)/annually

The Chief Minister of Kerala is like the main leader or "head executive" of the state of Kerala in India. Think of them as the captain of the state's government team. They have the real power to make decisions and lead the state.

After elections for the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the state's Governor usually asks the party (or group of parties) that won the most seats to form the government. The Chief Minister then chooses a team of ministers, called the Cabinet. This team works together and is responsible to the Assembly. If the Chief Minister has the support of the Assembly, they usually serve for five years. There's no limit to how many times someone can be Chief Minister.

A Brief History of Kerala's Leadership

After India became independent from British rule in 1947, the kings of Travancore and Cochin started having elected governments. These governments were led by a Prime Minister.

On July 1, 1949, Travancore and Cochin joined together to form the state of Travancore-Cochin. Other parts of what is now Kerala, like the Malabar District and Kasaragod, were part of the Madras Legislative Assembly.

How Kerala State Was Formed

On November 1, 1956, India's map was redrawn based on languages. This is when the modern state of Kerala was created. It brought together all the regions where people spoke Malayalam. This included Cochin, Malabar, Travancore, and the Kasaragod region.

The very first election for the Kerala Legislative Assembly happened in February–March 1957. The first Assembly was formed on April 5, 1957. It had 127 members.

Since then, 12 different people have served as the Chief Minister of Kerala. The first was E. M. S. Namboodiripad from the Communist Party of India. His time as Chief Minister was cut short by something called "President's rule." This happens when the central government takes control of a state's administration for a period. Kerala has been under President's rule seven times, for a total of four years. The last time was in 1982.

Since 1982, the Chief Minister's job has mostly been held by leaders from either the Indian National Congress or the Communist Party of India (Marxist). E. K. Nayanar has been the Chief Minister for the longest time, serving for almost 11 years in total. Pinarayi Vijayan is the current Chief Minister. His government, from the Left Democratic Front, has been in power since May 25, 2016.

Understanding the Tables

The tables below show important information about the Chief Ministers. Here's what the symbols mean:

  • Assassinated or died in office
  • Returned to office after a previous non-consecutive term
  • Resigned
  • Resigned following a no-confidence motion (meaning they lost the support of the Assembly)

Leaders Before Kerala State

Before Kerala became a state, different regions had their own leaders.

Prime Ministers of Travancore (1948–49)

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

Prime Ministers of Cochin (1947–49)

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

Prime Ministers of Travancore-Cochin (1949–50)

No Portrait Name Term of Office Assembly Appointed by (Rajpramukh) Party
1 No image available.svg 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 joined to form Travancore-Cochin on July 1, 1949. On January 1, 1950, Travancore-Cochin became a recognized state.

No Portrait Name Term of Office Assembly Appointed by (Rajpramukh) Party
1 No image available.svg 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.jpg C. Kesavan 28 February 1951 12 March 1952 1 year, 13 days
3 No image available.svg A. J. John 12 March 1952 16 March 1954 2 years, 4 days 2nd
(1951 election)
4 Pattom A. Thanu Pillai.jpg P. A. Thanu Pillai 16 March 1954 10 February 1955 331 days 3rd
(1954 election)
Praja Socialist Party
5 Panampilly statue.jpg P. Govinda Menon 10 February 1955 23 March 1956 1 year, 42 days Indian National Congress
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
23 March 1956 31 October 1956 222 days Dissolved N/A

Chief Ministers of Kerala

On November 1, 1956, the Indian government passed a law called the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. This law created the new state of Kerala. It combined Travancore-Cochin with the Malabar district and Kasaragod region from the Madras State. Some southern parts of Travancore-Cochin went to Madras state, and the Laccadive and Minicoy Islands became a separate Union Territory. A new Legislative Assembly was also formed, and elections were held in 1957.

No Portrait Name Constituency Tenure Assembly
(election)
Party Ministry
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 1 November 1956 5 April 1957 155 days Dissolved N/A N/A
1 EMS Namboodiripad 2001 stamp of India (cropped) 1.jpg 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
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 31 July 1959 22 February 1960 206 days Dissolved N/A N/A
2 Pattom A. Thanu Pillai.jpg P. A. Thanu Pillai
(1885–1970)
Trivandrum II 22 February 1960 26 September 1962 2 years, 216 days 2nd
(1960 election)
Praja Socialist Party Thanu Pillai
3 R. Sankar.jpg R. Sankar
(1909–1972)
Cannanore I 26 September 1962 10 September 1964 1 year, 350 days Indian National Congress Sankar
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 10 September 1964 25 March 1965 2 years, 177 days Dissolved N/A N/A
25 March 1965 6 March 1967 Dissolved
(1965 election)
N/A N/A
(1) EMS Namboodiripad 2001 stamp of India (cropped) 1.jpg 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.jpg C. Achutha Menon
(1913–1991)
Kottarakkara 1 November 1969 3 August 1970 275 days Communist Party of India Achutha Menon I
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 4 August 1970 3 October 1970 60 days Dissolved N/A N/A
(4) C. Achutha Menon.jpg 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 Karunakaran Kannoth.jpg 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.jpg A. K. Antony
(b. 1940)
Kazhakkuttom 27 April 1977 29 October 1978 1 year, 185 days Antony I
7 P.K. Vasudevan Nair.jpg P. K. Vasudevan Nair
(1926–2005)
Alleppey 29 October 1978 12 October 1979 348 days Communist Party of India Vasudevan Nair
8 C H Mohammed Koya (1979).jpg C. H. Mohammed Koya
(1927–1983)
Malappuram 12 October 1979 4 December 1979 53 days Indian Union Muslim League Koya
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 5 December 1979 25 January 1980 51 days Dissolved N/A N/A
9 E.K.Nayanar 1.jpg 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
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 21 October 1981 28 December 1981 68 days N/A N/A
(5) Karunakaran Kannoth.jpg K. Karunakaran
(1918–2010)
Mala 28 December 1981 17 March 1982 79 days Indian National Congress Karunakaran II
Emblem of India.svg Vacant
(President's rule)
N/A 17 March 1982 23 May 1982 67 days Dissolved N/A N/A
(5) Karunakaran Kannoth.jpg 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 1.jpg 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) Karunakaran Kannoth.jpg 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.jpg A. K. Antony
(b. 1940)
Thirurangadi 22 March 1995 20 May 1996 1 year, 59 days Antony II
(9) E.K.Nayanar 1.jpg 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.jpg 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 2013 4.JPG Oommen Chandy
(1943–2023)
Puthuppally 31 August 2004 18 May 2006 1 year, 260 days Chandy I
11 V. S. Achuthanandan 2016.jpg 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 2013 4.JPG Oommen Chandy
(1943–2023)
Puthuppally 18 May 2011 25 May 2016 5 years, 7 days 13th
(2011 election)
Indian National Congress Chandy II
12 Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan 2023.tif Pinarayi Vijayan
(b. 1945)
Dharmadam 25 May 2016 19 May 2021 9 years, 29 days 14th
(2016 election)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Pinarayi I
20 May 2021 At Present 15th
(2021 election)
Pinarayi II

Chief Minister Statistics

Here are some interesting facts about the Chief Ministers of Kerala.

Chief Ministers by Length of Term

This table shows who served the longest as Chief Minister.

No. Name Party Length of term No: of terms
Longest continuous term Total years of premiership
1 Nayanar, E. K.E. K. Nayanar CPI(M) 4 years, 361 days 10 years, 353 days 3
2 Karunakaran, K.K. Karunakaran INC 4 years, 305 days 8 years, 315 days 4
3 Vijayan, PinarayiPinarayi Vijayan CPI(M) 9 years, 29 days 9 years, 29 days 2
4 Menon, C. AchuthaC. Achutha Menon CPI 6 years, 172 days 7 years, 80 days 2
5 Chandy, OommenOommen Chandy INC 5 years, 6 days 6 years, 256 days 2
6 Antony, A. K.A. K. Antony INC 3 years, 105 days 5 years, 347 days 3
7 Achuthanandan, V. S.V. S. Achuthanandan CPI(M) 4 years, 364 days 4 years, 364 days 1
8 Namboodiripad, E. M. S.E. M. S. Namboodiripad CPI(M)/CPI 2 years 240 days 4 years 357 days 2
9 Pillai, Pattom A. ThanuPattom A. Thanu Pillai PSP 2 years 216 days 2 years 216 days 1
10 Sankar, R.R. Sankar INC 1 year 350 days 1 year 350 days 1
11 Nair, P. K. VasudevanP. K. Vasudevan Nair CPI 347 days 347 days 1
12 Koya, C. H. MohammedC. H. Mohammed Koya IUML 53 days 53 days 1

Chief Ministers by Political Party

This table shows how many Chief Ministers each political party has had, and for how long.

Political parties by total time-span of their member holding CMO (23 June 2025)
No. Political party Number of chief ministers Total days of holding CMO
1 Communist Party of India (Marxist) 4 10121 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

Timeline of Chief Ministers

This timeline shows when each Chief Minister served.

Pinarayi Vijayan V. S. Achuthanandan Oommen Chandy E. K. Nayanar C. K. Mohammed Koya P. K. Vasudevan Nair A. K. Antony K. Karunakaran C. Achutha Menon Raman Sankar Pattom Thanu Pillai E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Pinarayi Vijayan V. S. Achuthanandan Oommen Chandy E. K. Nayanar C. H. Mohammed Koya P. K. Vasudevan Nair A. K. Antony K. Karunakaran C. Achutha Menon R. Sankar Pattom A. Thanu Pillai E. M. S. Namboodiripad

See also

  • List of current Indian chief ministers
  • Kerala Council of Ministers
  • Deputy Chief Ministers of Kerala
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