Tamil Nadu CM - Second Debutant Legislator Milestone
May 12 , 2026 16 hrs 0 min 126 0
C. Joseph Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and actor, became the second debutant legislator since 1967 to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
He is also the first Chief Minister from a minority religious denomination (Christian) in the State.
In 2001, O. Panneerselvam became Chief Minister in his first term as legislator after the Supreme Court disqualified J. Jayalalithaa from office.
Unlike that case, Vijay entered electoral politics as the Chief Ministerial face of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which he launched in February 2024.
C.N. Annadurai served as a legislator from 1957–62 before becoming Chief Minister in 1967, while his successor, M. Karunanidhi, was a third-time legislator when he took office in 1969.
M.G. Ramachandran served as a legislator in 1967 and 1971 before becoming Chief Minister in 1977 during his third term.
J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister in 1991 after earlier serving as a legislator and Leader of Opposition in 1989, and having been a Rajya Sabha member earlier.
Edappadi K. Palaniswami became Chief Minister in 2017 during his fourth term as a legislator and after holding ministerial experience.
M.K. Stalin assumed office as Chief Minister in 2021 during his seventh entry into the Assembly.
Incidentally, Janaki Ramachandran, widow of M.G. Ramachandran, briefly served as Chief Minister without being a member of the legislature, but her ministry was short-lived.