List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal (1947-2026)

Jan 16, 2026, 18:14 IST

Explore the complete Chief Minister List of West Bengal, tracing leadership from independence to the present. Understand constitutional provisions, political transitions, President’s Rule periods, and landmark tenures. This concise guide highlights influential leaders, their parties, timelines, and governance impact, making it ideal for students, aspirants, and readers seeking historical insight.

List of all Chief Ministers of West Bengal (1947-2026)
List of all Chief Ministers of West Bengal (1947-2026)

Chief Minister List of West Bengal: India is comprises of 28 States and 8 Union Territories, each with unique capitals, cultures, and histories, among which West Bengal holds a significant histirical and strategic importance.

When British arrived in India around 1608, they only priortised to capture the Bengal, due to its location. Over the time, after the Independence, Bengal was always contributed toward the growth from its various political leadership.

In this article, we will explore the Chief Minister List of West Bengal, who has contributions toward the growth and development of Bengal.

List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal

The Chief Minister List of West Bengal comprises various leaders such as Mamta Banerjee, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Jyoti Basu, Siddhartha Shankar Ray and many more.

In West Bengal, due to the de facto executive authority, the Chief Minister of Bengal has special authority in upholding and implementing state laws

Article 164 of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of the Chief Minister and other Ministers by the Governor. 

In August 1947, the British Indian province of Bengal was divided into East Bengal (part of Pakistan) and West Bengal (part of India). Since then, the state has been ruled by eight Chief Ministers.

After spearheading the landslide victory of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in the West Bengal Assembly Election 2021, Mamta Banerjee took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 5 May 2021 for the third term in a row. Below we have provided a list of all the Chief Ministers of West Bengal. 

Premiers of West Bengal
S.No. Name Tenure Party
1. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh

15 August 1947 

-

22 January 1948

Indian National Congress (INC)
2. Bidhan Chandra Roy

23 January 1948

-

25 January 1950

Chief Ministers of West Bengal
S.No. Chief Minister Tenure Party 
1. Bidhan Chandra Roy

26 January 1950

-

1 July 1962

Indian National Congress (INC)
2. Prafulla Chandra Sen

9 July 1962

-

28 February 1967

3. Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee

1 March 1967

-

21 November 1967

Bangla Congress (United Front)
4. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh

21 November 1967

-

19 February 1968

Independent (Progressive Democratic Front)
  President's Rule

20 February 1968

-

25 February 1969

 
5.  Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee

25 February 1969

-

16 March 1970

Bangla Congress (United Front)
  President's Rule

19 March 1970

-

2 April 1971

 
6. Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee

2 April 1971

-

28 June 1971

Bangla Congress (Democratic Coalition)
  President's Rule

29 June 1971

-

20 March 1972

 
7.  Siddhartha Shankar Ray

20 March 1972

-

30 April 1977

Indian National Congress (Progressive Democratic Alliance)
  President's Rule

30 April 1977

-

20 June 1977

 
8. Jyoti Basu

21 June 1977

-

5 November 2000

Communist Party of India (Marxist)
9. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya

6 November 2000

-

13 May 2011

10. Mamata Banerjee

20 May 2011

-

Present

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

Who was the first Chief Minister of West Bengal?

Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh, was the first Chief Minister of West Bengal during 15 August 1947 to 22 January 1948. He was born on 24th December 1891 in the small village of Malikanda, which is now in Bangladesh.

Dr. Gosh was the first Indian to hold the position of Assistant Assay Master at the prestigious Calcutta Mint.

After India got independence, Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh was entrusted with the responsibilty for leading the West Bengal in the initial stage, and he is contributed in the nascent state's growth and development.

Who is Current Chief Minister of West Bengal?

The current Chief Minister of West Bengal is Mamata Banerjee. She was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal.

She was sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal on 20 May 2011, and since 2011, she has been serving consecutively three times as the CM of West Bengal.

Her electoral winnings in 2011, 2016, and 2021 reaffirm her political journey, succeeding Buddhadeb Bhattacharya as the Chief Minister initially in 2011.

Key Highlights:

1- West Bengal came under President's Rule on four occasions between 1968 and 1977. 

2- Jyoti Basu is the longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal with over 23 years in office.

3- Prafulla Chandra Ghosh is the shortest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal. 

4- Mamta Banerjee is the first and only female Chief Minister of West Bengal. 

This was the complete list of all the Chief Ministers of West Bengal. The students who will be appearing for the government, as well as competitive examinations, are advised to go through the list thoroughly. 

Prabhat Mishra
Prabhat Mishra

Content Writer

    Prabhat Mishra is an accomplished content creator with over 3 years of expertise in education, national and international news, and current affairs. A B.Tech graduate with extensive UPSC preparation, he has qualified for the UPPCS 2022 Mains and Bihar 68th Mains, showcasing his deep understanding of competitive exams.

    He has contributed to top platforms like Mentorship IndiaIAS BABA, and IAS SARTHI, delivering engaging articles on trending topics and global affairs. As a content writer for Jagranjosh.com, Prabhat specializes in crafting high-quality, insightful content for the G.K. and Current Affairs section, driving engagement and providing value to a wide audience.

    Reach him at prabhat.mishra@jagrannewmedia.com, and explore his work on Jagranjosh.com for the latest updates and analyses!

    ... Read More

    Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India, World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App.

    Trending

    Latest Education News