Chief Ministers Of Kerala
Term: 5 years
Appointed By: Governor of Kerala
Salary of Chief Minister: ₹1,85,000
Residence: Cliff House
A chief minister is the elected or appointed executive head of the state government.He/she is elected for a five-year term. The appointing authority is the governor of the state.

In this post lists the various Chief Ministers who served our state Kerala for the past 64 years and some interesting facts related to them. Most of the facts listed below repeatedly asked in various PSC exams.

Basic Facts 

  • Total No. of persons served as Chief Minister of Kerala as of 2022 - 12.
  • First Chief Minister of Kerala – E.M.S. Namboothiripad.
  • First Chief Minister of Thiru-Kochi (Travancore-Kochi) – Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai (July 1, 1949).
  • First elected Chief Minister of Thiru-Kochi – A. J. John, Anaparambil (March 12, 1952).
  • Last Chief Minister of Thiru-Kochi – Panampally Govinda Menon (March 23, 1956).
  • No. of CMs who resigned from office – 10.
  • Total No. of Deputy Chief Ministers in Kerala – 3.
    • R. Sankar – Pattom A. Thanu Pillai Ministry, 1960–1962.
    • C.H. Mohammed Koya – K. Karunakaran Ministry, 1981–1982 & 1982–1987
      • C.H. died in 1983.
    • K. Avukader Kutty Naha – K. Karunakaran Ministry, 1982–1987.
  • Kerala Chief Ministers who later become part of Central Government of India – K. Karunakaran (1995) & A.K. Anthony (2006).
  • Shortest-served Caretaker CMs (കാവൽ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി) of Kerala (1 day) – K. Karunakaran (1987) & E.K. Nayanar (1981).

Chief Ministers of Kerala


1. E.M.S. Namboodiripad

E.M.S. Namboodiripad
  • First Chief Minister of Kerala.
  • Served Two Terms – 1957 & 1967.
  • First non-Congress Chief Minister of India.
  • First Chief Minister to appear on a postal stamp (2001).
  • First Chief Minister who later became the opposition leader.
  • Longest-served Opposition leader - 1960 to 1964 & 1970 to 1977.
  • First Chief Minister of Kerala who lost power through Article 356.
  • Elected from the Nileswaram constituency in the first general election of Kerala.
  • Chief Minister of Kerala when the Kerala government in 1957 chose to return the press confiscated in 1910 to the heirs of Vakkom Maulavi.
  • The Chief Minister of Kerala who worked with Yogakshema Sabha of V.T. Bhattathiripad.
  • EMS Academy – Vilappilsala.
  • Founder of the Newspaper 'Pradhatham.'
  • Books – Atmakadha,  Onnekaal Kodi Malayalikal, A Short History of Peasant Movement in Kerala. 

2. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai

  • Only Person who headed Travancore, Thiru-Kochi & Kerala.
    • Thiru-Kochi – Chief Minister.
    • Travancore – Prime Minister.
  • Only Chief Minister of Kerala who was born in the 19th century (1885).
  • Only Chief Minister of Kerala who later became the Governor of an Indian State – Punjab (1962) & Andhra Pradesh (1964).
  • Leader of first coalition ministry in Kerala.
  • Leader of Vimochana Samaram (Liberation Struggle).
  • The Chief Minister who waited a long time to be sworn in (20 days; 1960).
  • First President of Travancore State Congress.
  • Served as the editor of Malayalam Newpaper 'Kerala Janatha.'

3. C. Achuthamenon

C. Achuthamenon

  • First Chief Minister who completed the term of five years.
  • First Chief Minister who introduced 'Dies Non.'
  • First CM who took the oath outside Raj Bhavan.
  • First Communist Chief Minister to complete the term.
  • First Rajya Sabha member to become Chief Minister of Kerala.
  • First Chief Minister of Kerala who held the office seven years (2 terms) consecutively – 1969-1977.
  • Chief Minister of Kerala during the emergency of 1975.
    • The emergency of 1975 – 
      • Home minister: K. Karunakaran & 
      • Governor: N.N. Wanchoo.
  • First Finance Minister of Kerala.
  • First Finance Minister to present Budget (on 7 June 1957).
  • Second CM to appear on a postal stamp (2013).
  • First Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
  • Became member of Cochin Praja Mandal, Thiru-Kochi, Kerala Legislative Assemblies & Rajya Sabha.
  • Books – Ente Balyakala Smaranakal.

4. R. Sankar

R. Sankar

  • First Congress Chief Minister.
  • First Chief Minister who presented the budget.
  • First Chief Minister from a backward community.
  • First to become Chief Minister after holding the position of Deputy Chief Minister.
  • First CM to resign when No-confidence motion was passed in the Assembly.
    • The person who presented No-confidence motion against R. Sankar – P.K. Kunju.
  • First Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala (Pattom A. Thanu Pillai ministry, 1960–1962; also served as finance minister).
  • Founder of the Newspaper 'Dinamani' (ദിനമണി).

5. K. Karunakaran

K. Karunakaran

  • Sobriquet: Kingmaker.
  • First Congress CM who completed the term.
  • Shortest Ministry –1977 (33 days).
  • CM for maximum no. of times – 4 times (1977, 1981, 1982 & 1991).
  • CM of Kerala when the Panchayat Raj Act was passed.
  • Chief Minister of Kerala who became a member of five different assemblies.
  • Chief Minister of Kerala who faced maximum no of No-confidence motions.
  • Member in Cochin, Travancore-Cochin and Kerala Legislature.
  • Home minister during emergency.
  • Founder of United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1970.
  • Served as the Minister for Industries in the Union Cabinet in 1995 (1 year).
  • Books – Patharathe Munnottu.

6. C.H. Muhammed Koya

C.H. Muhammed Koya

  • Shortest-served CM of Kerala (54 days).
  • First & Only Chief Minister from the Muslim Community.
  • The Only person to hold the office of MLA, MP, Speaker, Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Chief Minister.
  • First Person to become Chief Minister after holding the post of Speaker.
  • Only Chief Minister who later became Deputy Chief Minister.
  • Only person to become Deputy Chief Minister twice.
  • Only Chief Minister who later became a minister in the later years.

7. E.K. Nayanar

E.K. Nayanar

  • Longest-served CM of Kerala (4009 days).
    • 11 years, three terms:1980-1981, 1987-1991 & 1996-2001.
  • The Chief Minister who was sworn in the quickest (1987).
  • Chief Minister who participated in Kayyur Revolt (1941) & Mozhara Strike (1940).
  • Books – My Struggle, Olivukala Smrithikal (ഒളിവുകാല സ്മൃതികള്‍),  Pinnitta Vazhikal (പിന്നിട്ട വഴികള്‍), Nere Chowe (നേരെ ചൊവ്വേ).

8. P.K. Vasudevan Nair

P.K. Vasudevan Nair

  • First Person to hold the post of Opposition Leader, Minister & Chief Minister in the same assembly.
  • Books – Oru Communistkarente Ormakuruppukal.

9. A.K. Antony

A.K. Antony

  • Youngest Chief Minister (37 years old).
  • First to become Central Cabinet Minister after becoming Chief Minister.
  • CM of Kerala when Panchayat Raj came into force.
  • CM during the period of Arrack ban (1996) & unemployment wages.
  • First to become Rajyasabha Member after becoming Chief Minister.
  • First to become longest-served Defence Minister of India for continuous 8 years.

10. Oommen Chandy

Oommen Chandy

  • CM who introduced Sutharya Keralam.
  • CM with the lowest majority in the history of Kerala.
  • The second Congress Chief Minister to complete his term. 
  • First  & Only Chief Minister to receive United Nations Public Service Award (2013).
  • The first Chief Minister from Kerala to attend World Economic Forum (35th) held at Davos, Switzerland, in 2006.
  • The Longest served Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly  (53 years). 
    •  Represented the Puthuppally constituency continuously for 5 decades (1970, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 & 2021).
  • The longest-serving MLA of any legislative assembly in India.
  • Books –  Thurannitta Vathil (Autobiography), Changala Orungunnu (ചങ്ങല ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു), Marupadiyillatha Kathukal (മറുപടിയില്ലാത്ത കത്തുകൾ), Orattathinte Dinarathrangal (പോരാട്ടത്തിന്റെ ദിനാരാത്രങ്ങൾ).


    11. V.S. Achuthanandan

    V.S. Achuthanandan

    • Oldest person to become the Chief Minister of Kerala(83 years old).
    • Chief Minister who participated in the Punnapra Vayalar Revolt of 1946.
    • First elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in - 1967.
    • Books –  Samaram Thanne Jeevitham.

    12. Pinarayi Vijayan

    Pinarayi Vijayan
    • Third Chief Minister in the state to be re-elected.
    • First chief minister to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.
    • Longest-served Caretaker CM (കാവൽ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി) for the state of Kerala (17 days).
    • First Indian Chief Minister to allow trading on the London Stock Exchange.
    • Longest-served secretary of Kerala CPI(M) State Committee (1998 to 2015).
    • Longest continuous serving CM of Kerala (overtaking the record of former Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon's 2364 days).

    List of Chief Ministers in Kerala So far:

    NameTermParty
    EMS Namboodiripad05/04/1957 – 31/07/1957CPI
    Pattam A. Thanu Pillai22/02/1960 – 26/09/1962Praja Socialist Party
    R. Sankar26/09/1962 – 10/09/1964INC
    EMS Namboodiripad06/03/1967 – 01/11/1969CPI (Marxist)
    C. Achutha Menon01/11/1969 – 01/08/1970CPI
    04/10/1970 – 25/03/1977
    K. Karunakaran25/03/1977 – 25/04/1977INC
    A.K. Antony27/04/1977 – 27/10/1978
    P.K. Vasudevan Nair29/10/1978 – 07/10/1979CPI
    C.H. Mohammed Koya12/10/1979 – 01/12/1979Indian Union Muslim League
    E.K. Nayanar25/01/1980 – 0/10/1981CPI(Marxist)
    K Karunakaran28/12/1981 – 17/03/1982
    24/05/1982 – 25/03/1987    		INC
    E.K. Nayanar26/03/1987 – 17/06/1991CPI(Marxist)
    K. Karunakaran24/06/1991 – 16/03/1995INC
    A.K. Antony22/03/1995 – 09/05/1996
    E.K. Nayanar20/05/1996 – 13/05/2001CPI (Marxist)
    A.K. Antony17/05/2001 – 29/08/2004INC
    Oommen Chandy31/08/2004 – 18/05/2006
    V.S. Achuthanandan18/05/2006 – 14/05/2011CPI (Marxist)
    Oommen Chandy18/05/20111 – 20/5/2016INC
    Pinarayi Vijayan25 May 2016 – May 2021CPI
    20 May 2021 – Incumbent
    *CPI - Communist Party of India
    *INC- Indian National Congress

    Click here to know more about the books written by the Chief Ministers of Kerala

    📝SideNotes:

    • Sobriquet – a descriptive name or nickname.
    • President's rule – 7 times (4 years).
    • First Prime Minister of Travancore – Pattom Thanupillai (March 24, 1948).
    • Last Prime Minister (second PM as well) of Travancore – Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai (October 22, 1948).
    • First Prime Minister of Kochi – Panampilly Govinda Menon (August 14, 1947).
    • Last Prime Minister (third PM as well) of Kochi – E. Ikkanda Warrier (September 20, 1948).
    • First Communist to be elected to a Legislative Assembly – K. Ananthan Nambiyar. (Madras Legislative Assembly, 1946).
    • First Minister in Kerala (Cochin State) to resign followed by no-confidence motion – Dr. A.R. Menon (1942).
    • House or Residence:
      • Governor: Raj Bhavan.
      • Kerala Speaker: Neethi.
      • Leader of Opposition: Cantonment House.
    Thanks for reading!!!