In India, a Chief Minister is the de facto elected head of government of a state and sometimes a Union Territory (UT). Currently, 28 states and only the union territories of Delhi and Puducherry have a Chief Minister. According to the Constitution of India, the Governor is the head of the state, but the actual executive authority rests with the Chief Minister.
Since the Chief Minister is an elected head and in a democracy, election (or election) is related to popularity. In such a situation, only the Chief Minister who has more popularity can remain in office for the longest time. Come, let us know about such Chief Ministers who remained in their posts for the longest period. Or in short – the longest serving Indian Chief Minister.
Pawan Kumar Chamling
⦿ Pawan Kumar Chamling is the former Chief Minister of ‘Sikkim’ state.
⦿ Chamling is the founder president of Sikkim Democratic Front.
⦿ Pawan Kumar Chamling held the charge of Chief Minister of Sikkim for 24 years and 166 days.
Naveen Patnaik
⦿ Naveen Patnaik is the founder president of Biju Janata Dal.
⦿ is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Odisha.
⦿ He is the longest serving Chief Minister of Odisha.
⦿ Naveen Patnaik has been holding the charge of Chief Minister for almost 23 years.
Jyoti Basu
⦿ Jyoti Basu was a famous politician of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
⦿ He is the longest serving Chief Minister of West Bengal state.
Gegong Apang
⦿ Gegong Apang (born: 8 July, 1949) has been the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
⦿ Gegong Apang has been in all three parties, Indian National Congress, Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party.
⦿ He took charge as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for about 22.5 years.
Pu Lal Thanhawla
⦿ PU Lal Thanhawla (born: May 19, 1938) is the former Chief Minister of Mizoram.
⦿ He holds the record of being the longest serving Chief Minister of Mizoram.
Virbhadra Singh
⦿ Virbhadra Singh (23 June, 1934 – 8 July, 2021) was the former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh state.
⦿ Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh state six times.
⦿ Once he was also made the Steel Minister at the Centre.
⦿ Virbhadra Singh held the post of Chief Minister for a total of 21 years and 13 days.
List of Longest Serving Chief Ministers of India
| Pawan Kumar Chamling | Sikkim | 24 years, 166 days |
| Naveen Patnaik | Odisha | 23 years, 224 days |
| Jyoti Basu | West Bengal | 23 years, 138 days |
| Gegong Apang | Arunachal Pradesh | 22 years, 250 days |
| Lal Thanhawla | Mizoram | 22 years, 60 days |
| Virbhadra Singh | Himachal Pradesh | 21 years, 13 days |
| Manik Sarkar | Tripura | 19 years, 363 days |
| M. Karunanidhi | Tamil Nadu | 18 years, 362 days |
| Parkash Singh Badal | Punjab | 18 years, 350 days |
| Yashwant Singh Parmar | Himachal Pradesh | 18 years, 83 days |
| Nitish Kumar | Bihar | 17 years, 55 days |
| Shri Krishna Sinha | Bihar | 17 years, 42 days |
| Neiphiu Rio | Nagaland | 16 years, 232 days |
| Shivraj Singh Chouhan | Madhya Pradesh | 16 years, 224 days |
| Mohan Lal Sukhadia | Rajasthan | 16 years, 194 days |
