Kerala is one of the most literate and socially progressive states in India. It has a very rich history in terms of politics. The first party that managed the politics of the state after its establishment was the Communist Party of India. Over time, the state has seen many political shifts since its formation in the year 1956. Here is the complete list of Chief Ministers of Kerala till 2026.
Complete List of Chief Ministers of Kerala (1957 – 2026)
Here is the complete list of Chief Ministers of Kerala along with their tenure as per Niyam Sabha NIC:
| Name Of The Chief Minister | Tenure |
| Sari. E.M.S. Namboodiripad | April 5, 1957 – July 31, 1959 |
| Shri. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai | February 22, 1960 – September 26, 1962 |
| Shri. R. Sankar | September 26, 1962 – September 10, 1964 |
| Shri. E.M.S. Namboodiripad | March 6, 1967 – November 1, 1969 |
| Shri. C. Achutha Menon | November 1, 1969 – August 1, 1970 |
| Shri. C. Achutha Menon | October 4, 1970 – March 25, 1977 |
| Shri. K. Karunakaran | March 25, 1977 – April 25, 1977 |
| Shri. A.K. Antony | April 27, 1977 – October 27, 1978 |
| Shri. P.K. Vasudevan Nair | October 29, 1978 – October 7, 1979 |
| Shri. C.H. Mohammed Koya | October 12, 1979 – December 1, 1979 |
| Shri. E.K. Nayanar | January 25, 1980 – October 20, 1981 |
| Shri. K. Karunakaran | December 28, 1981 – March 17, 1982 |
| Shri.K. Karunakaran | May 24, 1982 – March 25, 1987 |
| Shri. E.K. Nayanar | March 26, 1987 – June 17, 1991 |
| Shri. K. Karunakaran | June 24, 1991 – March 16, 1995 |
| Shri. A.K. Antony | March 22, 1995 – May 9, 1996 |
| Shri. E.K. Nayanar | May 20, 1996 – May 13, 2001 |
| Shri. A.K. Antony | May 17, 2001 – August 29, 2004 |
| Shri. Oommen Chandy | August 31, 2004 – May 12, 2006 |
| Shri. V.S. Achuthanandan | May 18, 2006 – May 14, 2011 |
| Shri. Oommen Chandy | May 18, 2011 – May 20, 2016 |
| Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan | May 25, 2016 – May 03, 2021 |
| Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan | May 20, 2021 – Incumbent |
Notable Chief Ministers of Kerala and Their Contributions
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Source: Observer Voice
He was the first Chief Minister of Kerala. He was a Communist Party of India (CPI) member and became the Chief Minister in 1957. He brought in progressive land reforms and education reforms. He was dismissed from office in 1959 but was elected again and had a profound impact.
K. Karunakaran
Source: Wikipedia
He has been the CM of the state for a total of four-times. K Karunakaran hailed from the Congress and he was the most experienced political veteran in Kerala.
A. K. Antony
Source: Kerala Legislature
He is the youngest person to have been in office, when he became the Chief Minister of the state at the age of 36. He was known for his transparent governance, and initiated a number of reforms to ensure transparency and ethics in administration.
E. K. Nayanar
Source: Wikipedia
He was one of the state’s most enduring leaders. He held the office for 10 years and 353 days across different terms which made him one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers of Kerala. He expanded social welfare schemes, strengthened public health, and promoted workers’ rights across three terms.
V. S. Achuthanandan
Source: DD
He was a veteran communist leader known for his anti-corruption initiatives and advocacy for the underclasses. He was the oldest Chief Minister to take oath, at the age of 82.
Who is the Current Chief Minister of Kerala?
Pinarayi Vijayan is the current Kerala Chief Minister, and he has emerged as a prominent leader of 21st century Kerala. He has been the Chief Minister of Kerala since 25 May 2016, and is the first Kerala Chief Minister to be re-elected after serving the full five-year term.
He is currently in his second term, and is known for his effective handling of the 2018 Kerala floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2026 Kerala Assembly Elections: A Historic Contest
Kerala’s political landscape has gained extra excitement due to Kerala Election 2026. Kerala held its Legislative Assembly elections on 9 April 2026, and the results will be declared on 4 May 2026.
This is a crucial election as the LDF is attempting to win a third consecutive term. The LDF (Pinarayi Vijayan), Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA faced off in a three-way contest. The BJP, while gaining in vote share in the past elections, has failed to convert that into seats and is currently trying to establish its foot in the state.
Kerala’s democratic governance has many lessons for people. Kerala is one of the best states in the nation in terms of human development measures such as literacy, health, and poverty and the major shift is due to policy priorities of its Chief Ministers, regardless of their parties.
From communists to Congress, every CM of Kerala has in their own way helped to create a state that is a global powerhouse. The list of Kerala CMs is, in some sense, a representation of the vitality of democracy in India.
