Chief Ministers of Kerala
19 people have held the office, across 32 terms, from formation to today.
Every Chief Minister
Most recent first, with a short biography where one is available.
V. D. Satheesan
Incumbent18 May 2026 – present · 3 months
Vadasseri Damodaran Satheesan (born 31 May 1964) is an Indian politician and lawyer who is serving as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala since May 2026. A member of the Indian National Congress, he has represented Paravur in the Kerala Legislative Assembly since 2001. In the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, he led the Congress-led UDF to a landslide victory, with the alliance securing 102 seats in the 140-member assembly and ending the CPI(M)-led LDF's decade-long rule in the state. Wikipedia →
25 May 2016 – 18 May 2026 · 9 years, 11 months
Pinarayi Vijayan (Malayalam: [piɳɐraːji ʋid͡ʒɐjɐn]; born 24 May 1945) is an Indian politician who served as the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala from 25 May 2016 to 18 May 2026. He is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. A member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), he is the longest-serving secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) (1998–2015). Wikipedia →
18 May 2006 – 18 May 2011 · 4 years, 11 months
Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan (20 October 1923 – 21 July 2025), also known by his initials VS, was an Indian communist politician, independence activist, marxist theoretician, writer and statesman who was the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. At 82, he was the oldest person to have assumed the office. He was affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Wikipedia →
Oommen Chandy
31 Aug 2004 – 25 May 2016 · 6 years, 8 months · 2 terms
Oommen Chandy (31 October 1943 – 18 July 2023) was an Indian lawyer and statesman who served as the tenth chief minister of Kerala, serving from 2004 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016. He served also as the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011. He represented Puthuppally constituency as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the State Assembly from 1970 until his death in 2023, making him the longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislature Assembly. Wikipedia →
25 Jan 1980 – 17 May 2001 · 10 years, 11 months · 3 terms
Erambala Krishnan Nayanar (9 December 1919 – 19 May 2004) was an Indian writer, independence activist, communist politician and statesman who served as the 9th chief minister of Kerala from 1980 to 1981, 1987 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2001. He served in that position for a total of 10 years, 11 months and 22 days, thus making him the longest-served Chief Minister of Kerala. He was a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Wikipedia →
12 Oct 1979 – 4 Dec 1979 · 1 month
Cheriyankandi Muhammad Koya (15 July 1927 – 28 September 1983) popularly known as C. H. Muhammad Koya was an Indian social reformer, educationist and statesman who served as the 10th Chief Minister of Kerala from October to December 1979. He is more often noted for being the Minister of Education of Kerala from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1977 to 1979. After his stint as chief minister, Koya went on to become the 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala from 1981 until his death in 1983. Wikipedia →
29 Oct 1978 – 12 Oct 1979 · 11 months
Padayatt Kesava Pillai Vasudevan Nair (2 March 1926 – 12 July 2005), popularly known as PKV, was an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 9th Chief Minister of Kerala from 1978 to 1979. He was a Member of the Lok Sabha from 1957 to 1971 and again from 2004 until his death in 2005. He became Chief Minister on 29 October 1978, following A. K. Antony's resignation as Chief Minister. Wikipedia →
27 Apr 1977 – 31 Aug 2004 · 5 years, 11 months · 3 terms
Arackaparambil Kurien Antony (born 28 December 1940) is an Indian lawyer, attorney and statesman who was the longest serving Defence Minister of India from 2006 to 2014. One of the senior leaders of the Indian National Congress, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the All India Congress Committee, Congress Working Committee, and member of the Congress Core Group and Central Election Committee. He previously served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 1977 to 1978, 1995 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2004. Wikipedia →
K. Karunakaran
25 Mar 1977 – 22 Mar 1995 · 8 years, 10 months · 4 terms
Kannoth Karunakaran (5 July 1918 – 23 December 2010) was an Indian politician, political strategist, decision maker and statesman who served as the chief minister of Kerala in 1977, from 1981 to March 1982, from May 1982 to 1987 and from 1991 to 1995. He is the founder of the Indian National Congress (INC)-led United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition, which governed the state in the periods of 1982-87, 1991–96, 2001–06 and 2011–16; and currently is the ruling alliance in Kerala since 2026. He has also served as the Union Minister for Industry from 1995 to 1996 and served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for four terms- 1967 to 1969, 1978 to 1979, 1980 to 1981 and 1987 to 1991. Wikipedia →
1 Nov 1969 – 25 Mar 1977 · 7 years, 2 months · 2 terms
Chelat Achutha Menon (13 January 1913 – 16 August 1991) was an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 4th Chief Minister of Kerala from November 1969 to August 1970 and again from October 1970 to 1977. He is viewed as one of the most influential Chief Ministers of Kerala. Wikipedia →
26 Sep 1962 – 10 Sep 1964 · 1 year, 11 months
Raman Sankar (30 April 1909 – 7 November 1972) was an Indian politician, statesman, administrator, orator, educationist, writer and editor who served as the 3rd Chief Minister of Kerala from 1962 to 1964. Wikipedia →
5 Apr 1957 – 1 Nov 1969 · 4 years, 11 months · 2 terms
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad (Malayalam: [eːlɐŋɡuɭɐm mɐnɐjkːɐl ʃɐŋɡɐɾɐn n̪ɐmbuːd̪iɾipːaːɖə̆], 13 June 1909 – 19 March 1998) was an Indian communist politician, theorist, author and statesman who served as the first Chief Minister of Kerala in 1957–1959 and then again in 1967–1969. As a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), he became the first Chief Minister in India not to be a member of the Indian National Congress. In 1964, he led a faction of the CPI that broke away to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). Wikipedia →
A. J. John
12 Mar 1952 – 16 Mar 1954 · 2 years
Anaparambil Joseph John (18 July 1893 – 1 October 1957) was an Indian politician and statesman. He was Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras State. Wikipedia →
C. Kesavan
28 Feb 1951 – 12 Mar 1952 · 1 year
C. Kesavan (23 May 1891 – 7 July 1969) was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of Travancore-Cochin from 1950 to 1952. He began his public life as an activist in the Ezhava movement, and gained prominence through his leadership in the Nivarthana movement (abstension movement) in Travancore, demanding adequate representation for backward communities in the legislature. Wikipedia →
Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai
22 Oct 1948 – 28 Feb 1951 · 2 years, 4 months
Paravoor Thazhathuveettil Krishnan Narayana Pillai (25 March 1890 – 23 June 1971) was an Indian independence activist and politician from the Indian National Congress. He was the last Prime Minister of Travancore and the first Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin at the time of its formation in 1949. Wikipedia →
E. Ikkanda Warrier
20 Sep 1948 – 1 Jul 1949 · 9 months
Edakkunni Ikkanda Warrier, (1890–1977) was the third and the last Prime Minister of the state of Cochin, India, beginning in 1948. Wikipedia →
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
24 Mar 1948 – 26 Sep 1962 · 4 years · 3 terms
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (15 July 1885 – 27 July 1970) was an Indian politician and independence activist who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Kerala from 1960 to 1962. He also served as the Governor of Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. He was considered a central figure in Kerala politics. Wikipedia →
T. K. Nair
27 Oct 1947 – 20 Sep 1948 · 10 months
Thozhur Krishnan Nair (22 May 1896 – 15 June 1972) was the second Prime Minister of the State of Cochin, India, from 1947 to 1948. Wikipedia →
P. Govinda Menon
14 Aug 1947 – 23 Mar 1956 · 1 year, 3 months · 2 terms
Panampilly Govinda Menon (1 October 1906 – 23 May 1970) was an Indian lawyer, independence activist and statesman. Govinda Menon served as the Prime Minister of Cochin, Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin, member of the Constituent Assembly of India, Minister of State for Food and Agriculture, Union Minister for Law and Railways and President of the Nair Service Society. He was born in a village near Kathikkudam and graduated from St. Wikipedia →
Full timeline
Every term and every President's or Governor's Rule interval, most recent first.
| 18 May 2026 – present | V. D. Satheesan | INC | 3 months |
| 25 May 2016 – 18 May 2026 | Pinarayi Vijayan | CPM | 9 years, 11 months |
| 18 May 2011 – 25 May 2016 | Oommen Chandy | INC | 5 years |
| 18 May 2006 – 18 May 2011 | V. S. Achuthanandan | CPM | 5 years |
| 31 Aug 2004 – 18 May 2006 | Oommen Chandy | INC | 1 year, 8 months |
| 17 May 2001 – 31 Aug 2004 | A. K. Antony | INC | 3 years, 3 months |
| 20 May 1996 – 17 May 2001 | E. K. Nayanar | CPM | 4 years, 11 months |
| 22 Mar 1995 – 20 May 1996 | A. K. Antony | INC | 1 year, 1 month |
| 24 Jun 1991 – 22 Mar 1995 | K. Karunakaran | INC | 3 years, 8 months |
| 26 Mar 1987 – 24 Jun 1991 | E. K. Nayanar | CPM | 4 years, 2 months |
| 24 May 1982 – 26 Mar 1987 | K. Karunakaran | INC | 4 years, 10 months |
| 17 Mar 1982 – 24 May 1982 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule between Karunakaran's 2nd and 3rd ministries | 2 months | |
| 28 Dec 1981 – 17 Mar 1982 | K. Karunakaran | INC | 2 months |
| 21 Oct 1981 – 28 Dec 1981 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule after E.K. Nayanar's first ministry fell | 2 months | |
| 25 Jan 1980 – 20 Oct 1981 | E. K. Nayanar | CPM | 1 year, 8 months |
| 5 Dec 1979 – 25 Jan 1980 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule after C.H. Mohammed Koya's government fell | 1 month | |
| 12 Oct 1979 – 4 Dec 1979 | C. H. Mohammed Koya | IUML | 1 month |
| 29 Oct 1978 – 12 Oct 1979 | P. K. Vasudevan Nair | CPI | 11 months |
| 27 Apr 1977 – 29 Oct 1978 | A. K. Antony | INC | 1 year, 6 months |
| 25 Mar 1977 – 27 Apr 1977 | K. Karunakaran | INC | 1 month |
| 4 Oct 1970 – 25 Mar 1977 | C. Achutha Menon | CPI | 6 years, 5 months |
| 4 Aug 1970 – 4 Oct 1970 | President's / Governor's Rule — Brief President's Rule between Achutha Menon's two ministries | 2 months | |
| 1 Nov 1969 – 3 Aug 1970 | C. Achutha Menon | CPI | 9 months |
| 6 Mar 1967 – 1 Nov 1969 | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | CPM | 2 years, 7 months |
| 10 Sep 1964 – 6 Mar 1967 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule; continued after the inconclusive 1965 election produced no majority | 2 years, 5 months | |
| 26 Sep 1962 – 10 Sep 1964 | R. Sankar | INC | 1 year, 11 months |
| 22 Feb 1960 – 26 Sep 1962 | Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | PSP | 2 years, 7 months |
| 31 Jul 1959 – 22 Feb 1960 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule after E.M.S. Namboodiripad's first ministry fell | 6 months | |
| 5 Apr 1957 – 31 Jul 1959 | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | CPI | 2 years, 3 months |
| 1 Nov 1956 – 5 Apr 1957 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule from Kerala's formation until the first Legislative Assembly was convened | 5 months | |
| 23 Mar 1956 – 31 Oct 1956 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule in Travancore-Cochin state before its dissolution into Kerala | 7 months | |
| 10 Feb 1955 – 23 Mar 1956 | P. Govinda Menon | INC | 1 year, 1 month |
| 16 Mar 1954 – 10 Feb 1955 | Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | PSP | 10 months |
| 12 Mar 1952 – 16 Mar 1954 | A. J. John | INC | 2 years |
| 28 Feb 1951 – 12 Mar 1952 | C. Kesavan | INC | 1 year |
| 22 Oct 1948 – 28 Feb 1951 | Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai | INC | 2 years, 4 months |
| 20 Sep 1948 – 1 Jul 1949 | E. Ikkanda Warrier | IND | 9 months |
| 24 Mar 1948 – 17 Oct 1948 | Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | INC | 6 months |
| 27 Oct 1947 – 20 Sep 1948 | T. K. Nair | IND | 10 months |
| 14 Aug 1947 – 22 Oct 1947 | P. Govinda Menon | IND | 2 months |
Travancore and Cochin's separate prime-ministerial lines (1947-49) are included as predecessors, merging into Travancore-Cochin (1949) and then Kerala (1956/57). Pinarayi Vijayan's 2016-2026 tenure spans two consecutive assembly terms with no gap or party change and is merged into one entry.