Chief Ministers of Puducherry
10 people have held the office, across 20 terms, from formation to today.
Every Chief Minister
Most recent first, with a short biography where one is available.
6 Jun 2016 – 25 Feb 2021 · 4 years, 8 months
Velu Narayanasamy (born 30 May 1947) is an Indian politician who served as the 10th Chief Minister of Puducherry from 2016 to 2021. He is a member of the Indian National Congress. He previously served as Member of Parliament, representing Puducherry in the Lok Sabha. Wikipedia →
N. Rangasamy
Incumbent27 Oct 2001 – present · 17 years, 2 months · 5 terms
Natesan Rangaswamy (born 4 August 1950) is an Indian politician who is serving as the Chief Minister of Puducherry since May 2021. He has previously served as the chief minister from 2001 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2016. He is the founding president of the political party All India N. R. Congress (AINRC), which was formed after a breakaway from the Indian National Congress in 2011. Wikipedia →
22 Mar 2000 – 26 Oct 2001 · 1 year, 7 months
P. Shanmugam (25 March 1927 – 2 February 2013) (Born to Panchanatha Mudaliyar - Gowri) was the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. He served from 22 March 2000 to 27 October 2001. A staunch loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family, he was in politics since 1950. Wikipedia →
27 May 1996 – 21 Mar 2000 · 3 years, 9 months
R. V. Janakiraman (8 January 1941 – 10 June 2019) was the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Wikipedia →
4 Jul 1991 – 15 May 2011 · 7 years, 7 months · 2 terms
V. Vaithilingam (born 5 October 1950) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress, who currently represents Puducherry in the Lok Sabha. He held the position as the 11th Chief Minister of Pondicherry from 1991 to 1996 and the 16th Chief Minister of Puducherry again from 2008 to 2011. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms. Wikipedia →
M. D. R. Ramachandran
16 Jan 1980 – 4 Mar 1991 · 4 years, 5 months · 2 terms
M. D. R. Ramachandran (31 January 1934 – 8 December 2024) was an Indian politician. He served as Chief Minister of Pondicherry from 1980 to 1983 and from 1990 to 1991, and as Speaker of the Pondicherry Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006. Born on 31 January 1934, he died on 8 December 2024, at the age of 90. Wikipedia →
S. Ramassamy
6 Mar 1974 – 12 Nov 1978 · 1 year, 5 months · 2 terms
Subrahmanyan Ramassamy (5 June 1939 – 15 May 2017) was an Indian politician who was the fourth Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, then Pondicherry. He served 3rd Assembly from 6 March 1974 to 28 March 1974 and 4th Assembly from 2 July 1977 to 12 November 1978. Wikipedia →
9 Apr 1967 – 7 Mar 1990 · 10 years, 8 months · 3 terms
M. O. Hasan Farook Maricar (6 September 1937 – 26 January 2012) was an Indian politician and three-time Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. He was the youngest chief minister of any Union Territory of India. He served from 9 April 1967 to 6 March 1968 and 17 March 1969 to 3 January 1974 and from 1985 to 1990 He was thrice elected to the Lok Sabha from Pondicherry in 1991, 1996 and 1999 and served as a Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Tourism during June 1991 – December 1992. Wikipedia →
11 Sep 1964 – 18 Sep 1968 · 3 years, 1 month · 2 terms
V. Venkatasubba Reddiar was the second Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry (Puducherry). He was born in a wealthy agricultural family at Madukkarai, Pondicherry. His parents are Vaithilingam Reddiar and Vemalammal. Wikipedia →
1 Jul 1963 – 10 Sep 1964 · 1 year, 2 months
Édouard Goubert (French pronunciation: [edwaʁ ɡubɛʁ]; 29 July 1894 – 14 August 1979) was mayor and first chief minister of Pondicherry between 1 July 1963 and 11 September 1964. Initially a strongly pro-French leader, he later shifted towards the pro-merger Indian National Congress, which ultimately became the death knell for the sovereignty of France's comptoirs (trading posts) in India. He and Lambert Saravane founded the French India Socialist Party in July 1947. Wikipedia →
Full timeline
Every term and every President's or Governor's Rule interval, most recent first.
| 13 May 2026 – present | N. Rangasamy | AINRC | 3 months |
| 7 May 2021 – 12 May 2026 | N. Rangasamy | AINRC | 5 years |
| 25 Feb 2021 – 6 May 2021 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 2 months | |
| 6 Jun 2016 – 25 Feb 2021 | V. Narayanasamy | INC | 4 years, 8 months |
| 16 May 2011 – 5 Jun 2016 | N. Rangasamy | AINRC | 5 years |
| 4 Sep 2008 – 15 May 2011 | V. Vaithilingam | INC | 2 years, 8 months |
| 18 May 2006 – 3 Sep 2008 | N. Rangasamy | AINRC | 2 years, 3 months |
| 27 Oct 2001 – 17 May 2006 | N. Rangasamy | AINRC | 4 years, 6 months |
| 22 Mar 2000 – 26 Oct 2001 | P. Shanmugam | INC | 1 year, 7 months |
| 27 May 1996 – 21 Mar 2000 | R. V. Janakiraman | DMK | 3 years, 9 months |
| 4 Jul 1991 – 26 May 1996 | V. Vaithilingam | INC | 4 years, 10 months |
| 4 Mar 1991 – 3 Jul 1991 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 3 months | |
| 8 Mar 1990 – 4 Mar 1991 | M. D. R. Ramachandran | DMK | 11 months |
| 17 Mar 1985 – 7 Mar 1990 | M. O. H. Farook | INC | 4 years, 11 months |
| 24 Jun 1983 – 16 Mar 1985 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 1 year, 8 months | |
| 16 Jan 1980 – 24 Jun 1983 | M. D. R. Ramachandran | DMK | 3 years, 5 months |
| 12 Nov 1978 – 15 Jan 1980 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 1 year, 2 months | |
| 2 Jul 1977 – 12 Nov 1978 | S. Ramassamy | AIADMK | 1 year, 4 months |
| 28 Mar 1974 – 1 Jul 1977 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 3 years, 3 months | |
| 6 Mar 1974 – 28 Mar 1974 | S. Ramassamy | AIADMK | 22 days |
| 3 Jan 1974 – 5 Mar 1974 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 2 months | |
| 17 Mar 1969 – 3 Jan 1974 | M. O. H. Farook | DMK | 4 years, 9 months |
| 18 Sep 1968 – 16 Mar 1969 | President's / Governor's Rule — President's Rule | 5 months | |
| 6 Mar 1968 – 18 Sep 1968 | V. Venkatasubba Reddiar | INC | 6 months |
| 9 Apr 1967 – 5 Mar 1968 | M. O. H. Farook | DMK | 10 months |
| 11 Sep 1964 – 8 Apr 1967 | V. Venkatasubba Reddiar | INC | 2 years, 6 months |
| 1 Jul 1963 – 10 Sep 1964 | Edouard Goubert | INC | 1 year, 2 months |
N. Rangasamy's canonical Wikipedia article title is 'N. Rangaswamy'. NDA (led by AINRC) won the 2026 Puducherry election; N. Rangaswamy sworn in for a 5th term on 13 May 2026. P. Shanmugam's end date marked uncertain due to source discrepancy; pre-1963 office holders excluded.