Constitutional offices · verified 3 September 2026
R. N. Ravi is Governor and C. Joseph Vijay is Chief Minister. Vijay took oath on 10 May 2026 following the Assembly election.
State dossier 24 · Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu since 1947.
A source-led record of linguistic reorganisation, constitutional government, Dravidian politics, elections, people, industry, welfare, World Heritage, coasts and accountability.
Boundary rule: Madras Province, post-Constitution Madras State, the territory after Andhra’s 1953 separation and the 1956 linguistic reorganisation are different frames. Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.
234Assembly constituencies
39Lok Sabha constituencies
72,147,030Census 2011 population
5UNESCO World Heritage properties wholly or partly in State
Constitutional journey
Linguistic reorganisation and a constitutional rename established the present frame.
26 JAN 1950Madras Presidency became Madras State
1 OCT 1953Andhra State separated
1 NOV 1956Boundaries reorganised largely on language
14 JAN 1969Madras State renamed Tamil Nadu
States Reorganisation Act, 1956 · Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968.
Chief Ministers and constitutional administration
| Chief Minister | Period | Political frame |
|---|---|---|
| O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar; P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja; C. Rajagopalachari | 1947–1954 | INC; changing Madras boundaries |
| K. Kamaraj | 1954–1963 | INC |
| M. Bhaktavatsalam | 1963–1967 | INC |
| C. N. Annadurai | 1967–1969 | DMK; rename transition |
| M. Karunanidhi | 1969–1976; 1989–1991; 1996–2001; 2006–2011 | DMK |
| President’s Rule | 1976–1977; 1980; 1988–1989; 1991 | Article 356 |
| M. G. Ramachandran | 1977–1987 | AIADMK |
| V. N. Janaki Ramachandran | Jan 1988 | AIADMK; brief ministry |
| J. Jayalalithaa | 1991–1996; 2001; 2002–2006; 2011–2014; 2015–2016 | AIADMK |
| O. Panneerselvam | 2001–2002; 2014–2015; 2016–2017 | AIADMK |
| Edappadi K. Palaniswami | 2017–2021 | AIADMK |
| M. K. Stalin | 7 May 2021–10 May 2026 | DMK-led alliance |
| C. Joseph Vijay | 10 May 2026–present | TVK-led government |
Governor and current government
Current ministry
The post-election ministry is recorded from official appointment and portfolio notifications. Campaign roles and party posts are not treated as government office.
Assembly elections and parties
| Election era | Mandate | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1952–1962 | INC governments | Results cover changing Madras State boundaries. |
| 1967, 1971 | DMK majorities | Dravidian parties displaced Congress. |
| 1977–1984 | AIADMK majorities | M. G. Ramachandran led three victories. |
| 1989–2021 | DMK–AIADMK alternation | Alliance composition varied each election. |
| 2021 | DMK 133; AIADMK 66; others 35 | M. K. Stalin formed government. |
| 2026 | TVK 108; DMK 59; AIADMK 47; INC 5; others 15 | C. Joseph Vijay formed the TVK-led government. |
Tamil Nadu elects 234 MLAs and 39 Lok Sabha members. The 2026 figures use ECI’s completed constituency results; alliance totals are not inferred from party totals.
People, economy and public finance
| Measure | Figure / frame | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 72,147,030 | Census 2011 |
| Area | 130,058 km² | Government geography |
| Economic frame | Manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, textiles, IT, trade, services and agriculture | State output masks district disparities |
| Fiscal record | Budget 2025–26 | Budget estimates distinguished from audited outturn |
Industrial depth, urbanisation and social indicators require comparable measures. Current-price GSDP, real growth, per-capita income and household welfare remain separate.
Heritage, coast and civic change
World Heritage
Great Living Chola Temples, Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Western Ghats components and Maratha Military Landscapes’ Gingee Fort are counted by UNESCO property, not component.
Languages and movements
Tamil language, Self-Respect, anti-caste, anti-Hindi, labour, farmer, environmental and rights movements are tied to their organisations, demands and outcomes.
Coasts, rivers and forests
Gulf of Mannar, wetlands, Western and Eastern Ghats, Cauvery basin and cyclone coast have distinct legal and ecological boundaries. Tribunal awards, court orders and actual flows are separately dated.
Social policy
Reservation, nutrition, education, health and welfare claims distinguish law, scheme coverage, expenditure and measured outcome.
Audits and public accountability
CAG State Finances, revenue, compliance, performance, public-sector and local-body reports are tied to audited periods and replies. Transport, power, water, procurement and welfare require report-level evidence.
Political allegation, inquiry, audit observation, criminal charge, acquittal, conviction and appeal remain separate.
Source ledger
Boundaries and rename: Parliament and India Code · offices: Assembly, Raj Bhavan, State portal and PIB · elections: ECI · population: Census India · economy: Budget, DES, RBI and CAG · heritage and nature: UNESCO, ASI, Forest and water authorities · movements and welfare: statutes, archives, courts and official evaluations. Checked 3 September 2026.