List of chief ministers of Kerala

List of chief ministers of Kerala: Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, which unified the country’s Malayalam-speaking regions into a single state.

E. M. S. Namboodiripad of the Communist Party of India, was the first chief minister of Kerala. Since then, 12 people have served as the chief minister of Kerala.

E. K. Nayanar held the office for 10 years and 353 days, and is the longest serving holder of the office. Karunakaran was sworn-in as the chief minister four times. A. K. Antony was the youngest to hold the office at age of 36 years, and V. S. Achuthanandan was the oldest to be sworn in at the age of 82 years.

The state has come under President’s rule seven times, with the last of them occurring in 1982. Since the 1980s, the office of the chief minister has generally alternated between the leaders of the Indian National Congress and of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Pinarayi Vijayan is the incumbent chief minister since 25 May 2016, and is the first chief minister from Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term of 5 years.

List of chief ministers of Kerala

E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Born: 13 June 1909, Perinthalmanna, Madras Presidency
Died: 19 March 1998 (aged 88), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Nileshwaram
Term: 5 April 1957 – 31 July 1959
Duration: 2 years, 117 days
Party: Communist Party of India

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P. A. Thanu Pillai
Born: 15 July 1885, Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore
Died: 27 July 1970 (aged 85), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Thiruvananthapuram II
Term: 22 February 1960 – 26 September 1962
Duration: 2 years, 216 days
Party: Praja Socialist Party

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R. Sankar
Born: 30 April 1909, Kuzhikkalidavaka, Kingdom of Travancore
Died: 6 November 1972 (aged 63), Kollam, Kerala

Constituency: Kannur I
Term: 26 September 1962 – 10 September 1964
Duration: 1 year, 350 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Born: 13 June 1909, Perinthalmanna, Madras Presidency
Died: 19 March 1998 (aged 88), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Pattambi
Term: 6 March 1967 – 1 November 1969
Duration: 2 years, 240 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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C. Achutha Menon
Born: 13 January 1913, Puthukkad, Kingdom of Cochin
Died: 16 August 1991 (aged 78), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Kottarakkara
Term: 1 November 1969 – 3 August 1970
Duration: 275 days
Party: Communist Party of India

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C. Achutha Menon
Born: 13 January 1913, Puthukkad, Kingdom of Cochin
Died: 16 August 1991 (aged 78), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Kodakara
Term: 4 October 1970 – 25 March 1977
Duration: 6 years, 172 days
Party: Communist Party of India

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K. Karunakaran
Born: 5 July 1918, Chirakkal, Madras Presidency
Died: 23 December 2010 (aged 92), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Mala
Term: 25 March 1977 – 27 April 1977
Duration: 33 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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A. K. Antony
Born: 28 December 1940 (age 85)
Cherthala, Travancore

Constituency: Kazhakootam
Term: 27 April 1977 – 29 October 1978
Duration: 1 year, 185 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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P. K. Vasudevan Nair
Born: 2 March 1926, Kidangoor, Travancore
Died: 12 July 2005 (aged 79), New Delhi

Constituency: Alappuzha
Term: 29 October 1978 – 12 October 1979
Duration: 348 days
Party: Communist Party of India

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C. H. Mohammed Koya
Born: 15 July 1927, Atholi, Madras Presidency
Died: 28 September 1983 (aged 56), Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Constituency: Malappuram
Term: 12 October 1979 – 4 December 1979
Duration: 53 days
Party: Indian Union Muslim League

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E. K. Nayanar
Born: 9 December 1919, Kalliasseri, Kannur, Kerala
Died: 19 May 2004 (aged 84), Delhi

Constituency: Malampuzha
Term: 25 January 1980 – 20 October 1981
Duration: 1 year, 268 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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K. Karunakaran
Born: 5 July 1918, Chirakkal, Madras Presidency
Died: 23 December 2010 (aged 92), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Mala
Term: 28 December 1981 – 17 March 1982
Duration: 79 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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K. Karunakaran
Born: 5 July 1918, Chirakkal, Madras Presidency
Died: 23 December 2010 (aged 92), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Mala
Term: 24 May 1982 – 26 March 1987
Duration: 4 years, 306 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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E. K. Nayanar
Born: 9 December 1919, Kalliasseri, Kannur, Kerala
Died: 19 May 2004 (aged 84), Delhi

Constituency: Thrikaripur
Term: 26 March 1987 – 24 June 1991
Duration: 4 years, 90 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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K. Karunakaran
Born: 5 July 1918, Chirakkal, Madras Presidency
Died: 23 December 2010 (aged 92), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Mala
Term: 24 June 1991 – 22 March 1995
Duration: 3 years, 271 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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A. K. Antony
Born: 28 December 1940 (age 85)
Cherthala, Travancore

Constituency: Tirurangadi
Term: 22 March 1995 – 20 May 1996
Duration: 1 year, 59 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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E. K. Nayanar
Born: 9 December 1919, Kalliasseri, Kannur, Kerala
Died: 19 May 2004 (aged 84), Delhi

Constituency: Thalassery
Term: 20 May 1996 – 17 May 2001
Duration: 4 years, 362 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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A. K. Antony
Born: 28 December 1940 (age 85)
Cherthala, Travancore

Constituency: Cherthala
Term: 17 May 2001 – 31 August 2004
3 years, 106 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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Oommen Chandy
Born: 31 October 1942, Kumarakom, Kingdom of Travancore
Died: 18 July 2023 (aged 79), Bengaluru, Karnataka

Constituency: Puthuppally
Term: 31 August 2004 – 18 May 2006
Duration: 1 year, 260 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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V. S. Achuthanandan
Born: 20 October 1923, Alappuzha, Kingdom of Travancore
Died: 21 July 2025 (aged 101), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Constituency: Malampuzha
Term: 18 May 2006 – 18 May 2011
Duration: 5 years, 0 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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Oommen Chandy
Born: 31 October 1942, Kumarakom, Kingdom of Travancore
Died: 18 July 2023 (aged 79), Bengaluru, Karnataka

Constituency: Puthuppally
Term: 18 May 2011 – 25 May 2016
Duration: 5 years, 7 days
Party: Indian National Congress

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Pinarayi Vijayan
Born: 24 May 1945 (age 80)
Pinarayi, Madras Presidency, British India

Constituency: Dharmadam
Term: 25 May 2016 – Incumbent
Duration: 9 years, 240 days
Party: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

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Kerala Chief Ministers List

Name	Term	Duration	Party
E. M. S. Namboodiripad	5 April 1957 – 31 July 1959	2 years, 117 days	CPI
P. A. Thanu Pillai	22 February 1960 – 26 September 1962	2 years, 216 days	PSP
R. Sankar	26 September 1962 – 10 September 1964	1 year, 350 days	INC
E. M. S. Namboodiripad	6 March 1967 – 1 November 1969	2 years, 240 days	CPI(M)
C. Achutha Menon	1 November 1969 – 3 August 1970	275 days	CPI
C. Achutha Menon	4 October 1970 – 25 March 1977	6 years, 172 days	CPI
K. Karunakaran	25 March 1977 – 27 April 1977	33 days	INC
A. K. Antony	27 April 1977 – 29 October 1978	1 year, 185 days	INC
P. K. Vasudevan Nair	29 October 1978 – 12 October 1979	348 days	CPI
C. H. Mohammed Koya	12 October 1979 – 4 December 1979	53 days	IUML
E. K. Nayanar	25 January 1980 – 20 October 1981	1 year, 268 days	CPI(M)
K. Karunakaran	28 December 1981 – 17 March 1982	79 days	INC
K. Karunakaran	24 May 1982 – 26 March 1987	4 years, 306 days	INC
E. K. Nayanar	26 March 1987 – 24 June 1991	4 years, 90 days	CPI(M)
K. Karunakaran	24 June 1991 – 22 March 1995	3 years, 271 days	INC
A. K. Antony	22 March 1995 – 20 May 1996	1 year, 59 days	INC
E. K. Nayanar	20 May 1996 – 17 May 2001	4 years, 362 days	CPI(M)
A. K. Antony	17 May 2001 – 31 August 2004	3 years, 106 days	INC
Oommen Chandy	31 August 2004 – 18 May 2006	1 year, 260 days	INC
V. S. Achuthanandan	18 May 2006 – 18 May 2011	5 years, 0 days	CPI(M)
Oommen Chandy	18 May 2011 – 25 May 2016	5 years, 7 days	INC
Pinarayi Vijayan	25 May 2016 – 19 May 2021	9 years, 240 days	CPI(M)
Pinarayi Vijayan	20 May 2021 – Incumbent		CPI(M)

Note*

• CPI: Communist Party of India
• PSP: Praja Socialist Party
• INC: Indian National Congress
• CPI[M]: Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• IUML: Indian Union Muslim League

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