Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

The deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu is the deputy to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, who is the head of the government of Tamil Nadu. The deputy chief minister is the council of ministers of Tamil Nadu's second-highest-ranking member. A deputy chief minister also holds a cabinet portfolio in the state ministry. In the legislative assembly system of government, the position of deputy chief minister is used to govern the state with the support of a single party member to bring political stability and strength within a coalition government or in times of state emergency when a proper chain of command is necessary. On multiple occasions, proposals have arisen to make the post permanent, but without result. The same goes for the post of deputy prime minister at the national level.

The office has been only intermittently occupied, with a total tenure of just over 7 years in the 17 years since its inauguration. Since 2009, Tamil Nadu has had 3 deputy chief ministers; none of them have completed a full term in the role. The position was first held by M. K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, who also served as minister for rural development and local administration in M. Karunanidhi’s fifth ministry. Following his tenure, the post remained vacant until O. Panneerselvam of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam assumed the role. He became the longest-serving deputy chief minister, holding the position alongside his responsibilities as finance minister in Edappadi K. Palaniswami's ministry. Most recently, Udhayanidhi Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was appointed deputy chief minister while also serving as minister for youth welfare and sports development in Stalin's ministry.

The current government does not have a deputy chief minister, and the post has been vacant since 6 May 2026.

Timeline

List of deputy chief ministers by length of term

List by party

Parties by total duration (in days) of holding Deputy Chief Minister's Office

• History of Tamil Nadu
• Politics of Tamil Nadu
• Elections in Tamil Nadu
• Governor of Tamil Nadu
• Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• Chief Secretariat of Tamil Nadu
• Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
• List of current Indian deputy chief ministers
• Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
• Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
• List of leaders of the house in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly