Who is the Longest-Serving Chief Minister of Karnataka?
The article explains who served as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka along with a complete Karnataka CM List. It also covers the first Chief Minister of Karnataka, major political leaders, their tenures, and important facts for competitive exams.
Karnataka has witnessed several influential political leaders who shaped the state’s development after its formation from the first Chief Minister to the longest-serving CM, each leader played an important role in the political and administrative journey of the state.
Who is the Longest-Serving Chief Minister of Karnataka?
The title of the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka belongs to Siddaramaiah. In January 2026 the Congress stalwart surpassed the long-standing record D. Devaraj Urs, who had held the record for over four decades with a tenure of 7 years and 239 days.
Siddaramaiah became the longest serving chief minister of Karnataka having served a total of 8 years and 12 days across two major terms: May 13, 2013, to May 17, 2018 and Second Term: May 20, 2023, to May 28, 2026
In his first term he was only the second CM in Karnataka history to successfully complete a full 5-year term and his second term is defined by the implementation of major social welfare guarantee schemes, which concluded following a scheduled leadership transition to D. K. Shivakumar.
Siddaramaiah hails from the Kuruba community in Mysuru, Karnataka. Siddaramaiah's legacy is defined by his championing of the AHINDA coalition (Minorities, Backward Classes, and Dalits) and his unmatched record of presenting 17 state budgets.
Where D. Devaraj Urs served as the Chief Minister for a cumulative total of 7 years and 234 days across two distinct terms: first term from March 20, 1972, to December 31, 1977 and second term from February 28, 1978, to January 7, 1980.
Karnataka CM List From 1956 to 2026
The complete official list of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka since the reorganization of the state in 1956 up to the current year 2026.
S.No | Chief Minister Name | From | To | Political Party |
| 1 | S. Nijalingappa | November 1, 1956 | April 10, 1958 | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | B. D. Jatti | May 16, 1958 | March 9, 1962 | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | S. R. Kanthi | March 14, 1962 | June 20, 1962 | Indian National Congress |
| 4 | S. Nijalingappa | June 21, 1962 | May 28, 1968 | Indian National Congress |
| 5 | Veerendra Patil | May 29, 1968 | March 18, 1971 | Indian National Congress |
| - | President's Rule | March 19, 1971 | March 19, 1972 | N/A |
| 6 | D. Devaraj Urs | March 20, 1972 | December 31, 1977 | Indian National Congress |
| - | President's Rule | December 31, 1977 | February 28, 1978 | N/A |
| 7 | D. Devaraj Urs | February 28, 1978 | January 7, 1980 | Indian National Congress |
| 8 | R. Gundu Rao | January 12, 1980 | January 6, 1983 | Indian National Congress |
| 9 | Ramakrishna Hegde | January 10, 1983 | August 12, 1988 | Janata Party |
| 10 | S. R. Bommai | August 13, 1988 | April 21, 1989 | Janata Dal |
| - | President's Rule | April 21, 1989 | November 30, 1989 | N/A |
| 11 | Veerendra Patil | November 30, 1989 | October 10, 1990 | Indian National Congress |
| 12 | S. Bangarappa | October 17, 1990 | November 19, 1992 | Indian National Congress |
| 13 | M. Veerappa Moily | November 19, 1992 | December 11, 1994 | Indian National Congress |
| 14 | H. D. Deve Gowda | December 11, 1994 | May 31, 1996 | Janata Dal |
| 15 | J. H. Patel | May 31, 1996 | October 7, 1999 | Janata Dal |
| 16 | S. M. Krishna | October 11, 1999 | May 28, 2004 | Indian National Congress |
| 17 | N. Dharam Singh | May 28, 2004 | January 28, 2006 | Indian National Congress (Coalition) |
| 18 | H. D. Kumaraswamy | February 3, 2006 | October 8, 2007 | Janata Dal (Secular) |
| - | President's Rule | October 9, 2007 | November 11, 2007 | N/A |
| 19 | B. S. Yediyurappa | November 12, 2007 | November 19, 2007 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| - | President's Rule | November 20, 2007 | May 27, 2008 | N/A |
| 20 | B. S. Yediyurappa | May 30, 2008 | July 31, 2011 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 21 | D. V. Sadananda Gowda | August 4, 2011 | July 12, 2012 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 22 | Jagadish Shettar | July 12, 2012 | May 12, 2013 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 23 | Siddaramaiah | May 13, 2013 | May 15, 2018 | Indian National Congress |
| 24 | B. S. Yediyurappa | May 17, 2018 | May 19, 2018 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 25 | H. D. Kumaraswamy | May 23, 2018 | July 23, 2019 | Janata Dal (Secular) (Coalition) |
| 26 | B. S. Yediyurappa | July 26, 2019 | July 26, 2021 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 27 | Basavaraj Bommai | July 28, 2021 | May 13, 2023 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 28 | Siddaramaiah | May 20, 2023 | Present (2026) | Indian National Congress |
Who was the First Chief Minister of Karnataka?
K. Chengalaraya Reddy (K. C. Reddy) was the first Chief Minister of Mysore State, serving right after India's independence from October 25, 1947, to March 30, 1952 where S. Nijalingappa took charge as the first Chief Minister of the unified Mysore State on November 1, 1956 after the linguistic unification of Kannada-speaking regions under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. However Karnataka was a unified state, renamed on November 1, 1973.
Important Facts About Karnataka Chief Ministers
-
H. D. Deve Gowda is the only Chief Minister of Karnataka who rose to become the Prime Minister of India, serving from June 1996 to April 1997.
-
B. S. Yediyurappa holds the record for the shortest tenure in the state. His third stint in May 2018 lasted for a mere 3 days before he resigned ahead of a trust vote. However, he is also the only leader to serve as CM four separate times.
-
Karnataka has seen two instances of a father and son both occupying the Chief Minister’s chair: H. D. Deve Gowda & H. D. Kumaraswamy, and S. R. Bommai & Basavaraj Bommai.
-
The S.R. Bommai Landmark Case: The dismissal of S. R. Bommai’s government in 1989 led to a historic Supreme Court verdict (S. R. Bommai v. Union of India), which set strict constitutional guidelines against the arbitrary misuse of Article 356 (President's Rule) by the central government.
Karnataka Political History and Formation of the State
The roots of modern Karnataka lie in the rich heritage of the Kingdom of Mysore upon India's independence in 1947, the princely state integrated into the Indian Union. On November 1, 1956, the map was redrawn under the States Reorganisation Act 1956, Kannada-dominated areas from the neighboring Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency, and Hyderabad Nizamate were merged with Mysore State to bring all Kannada speakers under a single administration. The state was officially renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973, reflecting its historical identity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Karnataka CM List
Q1: Who is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka?
Ans: Siddaramaiah is the longest-serving Chief Minister, with a cumulative tenure of 8 years.
Q2: Who was the first Chief Minister after the state was renamed Karnataka?
Ans: D. Devaraj Urs was the serving Chief Minister when the state's name was officially changed from Mysore to Karnataka in 1973.
Q3: How many times has President's Rule been imposed in Karnataka?
Ans: President's Rule has been imposed in Karnataka a total of 6 times due to various political developments and breakdowns of coalition majorities.
Manisha Waldia is an accomplished content writer with 4+ years of experience dedicated to UPSC, State PCS, and current affairs. She excels in creating expert content for core subjects like Polity, Geography, and History. Her work emphasises in-depth conceptual understanding and rigorous analysis of national and international affairs. Manisha has curated educational materials for leading institutions, including Drishti IAS, Shubhara Ranjan IAS, Study IQ, and PWonly IAS. Email ID: manisha.waldia@jagrannewmedia.com
-1779983897367_t.webp)
