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List of Punjab Chief Ministers (1947-2025)

Punjab has seen various leaders shaping its political landscape, from Gopi Chand Bhargava to Bhagwant Mann. The state has witnessed multiple President’s Rule periods and key milestones, including the first female and Dalit Chief Ministers. Explore the history and leadership transitions of Punjab’s governance over the decades.

Feb 11, 2025, 00:12 IST

List of Punjab Chief Ministers

The Chief Minister of Punjab is the head of the state government, entrusted with the job of managing the administration, important decisions for the development of the state, and working for the welfare of the state. Since its creation in 1947, there have been fifteen chief ministers. Gopi Chand Bhargava was the first. At present, Bhagwant Mann is the Chief Minister who started his tenure on March 16, 2022.

The first chief minister of the newly re-configured state in 1966 was Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir. In the 1967 elections, Gurnam Singh of the Akali Das Sant Fateh Singh Group became the first non-Congress chief minister.

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was the first female Chief Minister of Punjab. There have also been five instances of President's Rule in Punjab, during which the state is directly governed by the central government. Parkash Singh Badal served five terms as chief minister. In 2017, Amarinder Singh became CM for the second time but failed to complete his tenure due to internal political factionalism, and Charanjit Singh Channi became the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab just 6 months before the expiry of the 15th assembly.

Parkash Singh Badal assumed office for the third time in 1997 and became the first chief minister, since Kairon's resignation in 1964, to serve a full term. Badal was succeeded by Congressman Amarinder Singh, who also successfully served a full term.