After NDA got a huge majority in Bihar, Nitish Kumar is once again ready to take oath as the Chief Minister for the 10th time. NDA legislature party has chosen Nitish Kumar as its leader. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is to be held on Thursday (20 November 2025) at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. There have been many Chief Ministers in the country who have been Chief Ministers for decades.
Country’s longest tenured CM
Pawan Kumar Chamling has the experience of working as Chief Minister for the longest period. He has been the Chief Minister of Sikkim from 12 December 1994 to 26 May 2019. Pawan Chamling was the CM of Sikkim for about 25 years. His party won five consecutive times. He is the leader who has been the longest serving CM of India.
Naveen Patnaik 24 years tenure
The second name in this list is that of former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. He ruled Odisha for 24 years (5 March 2000-12 June 2024). Here BJP got majority in the elections held in 2024. Last year, if Naveen Patnaik had become the CM in the BJD government, he would have broken the record of Pawan Kumar Chamling.
Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Base has run the government of West Bengal for 23 years. He was the Chief Minister for 23 years (21 June 1977-5 November 2000). Gegong Apang has been the CM of Arunachal Pradesh for 23 years. At one time the entire politics of Arunachal revolved around him.
Lal Thanhawla served as the Chief Minister of Mizoram for 22 years in three different terms. His first term was from 5 May 1984 to 21 August 1986, the second from 24 January 1989 to 3 December 1998, and the third from 11 December 2008 to 15 December 2018. Former CM of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh has commanded the state for 21 years in different tenures.
Nitish Kumar’s name at number eight
Manik Sarkar was the CM of Tripura from March 1998 to 2018 (19 years 363 days). Nitish Kumar is at number eight in this list. He has been the CM of the state from 3-11 March 2000, 24 November 2005-20 May 2014, 2 February 2015-till now. He worked as CM for 19 years and 93 days.
Former CM of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi has been in power in the state for 18 years. He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 10 February 1969 to 31 January 1976, from 27 January 1989 to 30 January 1991, from 13 May 1996 to 14 May 2001, from 13 May 2006 to 16 May 2011. Former Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal is at number 10 in this list. He was CM for 18 years and 250 days from 27 March 1970 – 14 June 1971, 20 June 1977-17 February 1980, 12 February 1997-26 February 2002, 1 March 2007-16 March 2017.