Karnataka CM List: Longest-Serving Chief Minister

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.

Introduction & Concept Overview

The title of the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka belongs to Siddaramaiah. In his tenure, he surpassed the long-standing record of D. Devaraj Urs, who had held the record for over four decades with a tenure of 7 years and 239 days.

Complete List of Karnataka Chief Ministers

The complete official list of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka since the reorganization of the state in 1956 is as follows

| K. Chengalaraya Reddy | October 25, 1947

• March 30, 1952 | Indian National Congress |

| S. Nijalingappa | November 1, 1956

• March 16, 1958 | Indian National Congress |

| B. D. Jatti | March 16, 1958

• March 9, 1962 | Indian National Congress |

| S. R. Kanthi | March 14, 1962

• June 20, 1962 | Indian National Congress |

| S. Nijalingappa | June 21, 1962

• March 29, 1965 | Indian National Congress |

| S. Nijalingappa | March 29, 1965

• March 31, 1967 | Indian National Congress |

| S. Nijalingappa | March 31, 1967

• May 29, 1968 | Indian National Congress |

| B. D. Jatti | May 29, 1968

• March 27, 1971 | Indian National Congress |

| D. Devaraj Urs | March 20, 1972

• December 31, 1977 | Indian National Congress |

| D. Devaraj Urs | February 28, 1978

• January 7, 1980 | Indian National Congress |

| R. Gundu Rao | January 7, 1980

• June 6, 1983 | Indian National Congress |

| Ramakrishna Hegde | January 10, 1983

• August 29, 1988 | Janata Party |

| S. R. Bommai | August 13, 1988

• April 21, 1989 | Janata Dal |

| S. Bangarappa | October 17, 1990

• November 19, 1992 | Indian National Congress |

| M. Veerappa Moily | November 19, 1992

• December 11, 1994 | Indian National Congress |

| H. D. Deve Gowda | December 11, 1994

• May 31, 1996 | Janata Dal |

| J. H. Patel | May 31, 1996

• October 7, 1999 | Janata Dal |

| S. M. Krishna | October 11, 1999

• May 28, 2004 | Indian National Congress |

| Dharam Singh | May 28, 2004

• February 2, 2006 | Indian National Congress |

| H. D. Kumaraswamy | February 3, 2006

• October 9, 2007 | Janata Dal |

| B. S. Yediyurappa | November 12, 2007

• November 19, 2007 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| B. S. Yediyurappa | May 30, 2008

• July 31, 2011 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| D. V. Sadananda Gowda | August 4, 2011

• July 12, 2012 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| Jagadish Shettar | July 12, 2012

• May 13, 2013 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| Siddaramaiah | May 13, 2013

• May 17, 2018 | Indian National Congress |

| B. S. Yediyurappa | May 17, 2018

• May 23, 2018 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| H. D. Kumaraswamy | May 23, 2018

• July 26, 2019 | Janata Dal |

| B. S. Yediyurappa | July 26, 2019

• July 28, 2021 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| Basavaraj Bommai | July 28, 2021

• May 20, 2023 | Bharatiya Janata Party |

| Siddaramaiah | May 20, 2023

• May 28, 2026 | Indian National Congress |

Key Facts & Figures to Memorize

• Siddaramaiah is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka.
• D. Devaraj Urs served as the Chief Minister for a cumulative total of 7 years and 234 days.
• K. Chengalaraya Reddy was the first Chief Minister of Mysore State.
• S. Nijalingappa was the first Chief Minister of the unified Mysore State.
• H. D. Deve Gowda is the only Chief Minister of Karnataka who rose to become the Prime Minister of India.
• B. S. Yediyurappa holds the record for the shortest tenure in the state.

Memory Tricks & Mnemonics

To remember the first Chief Ministers of Karnataka, use the phrase: KCR SN (K. Chengalaraya Reddy, S. Nijalingappa).