The Chief Minister of Karnataka is the elected head and the chief executive of the state. The Chief Minister is elected by a majority in the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka. The Governor of Karnataka is the appointing authority for the Chief Minister of the state.
The Chief Minister of Karnataka acts as the leader of the Legislative Assembly, leader of the Council of Ministers, and the chief adviser to the Governor.
The Chief Minister’s term can last for a maximum period of 5 years. But there is no limit to the number of terms that a Chief Minister can serve the state.
The list of Chief Ministers of Karnataka is as follows:
| Name | Party | Period |
|---|---|---|
| K. Chengalaraya Reddy | Congress | October 25, 1947 – March 30, 1952 |
| Kengal Hanumanthaiah | Congress | March 30, 1952 – August 19, 1956 |
| Kadidal Manjappa | Congress | August 19, 1956 – October 31, 1956 |
| S. Nijalingappa | Congress | November 1, 1956 – April 10, 1957 |
| S. Nijalingappa | Congress | April 10, 1957 – May 16, 1958 |
| B.D. Jatti | Congress | May 16, 1958 – March 9, 1962 |
| S.R. Kanthi | Congress | March 14, 1962 – June 20, 1962 |
| S. Nijalingappa | Congress | June 21, 1962 – March 3, 1967 |
| S. Nijalingappa | Congress | March 3, 1967 – May 29, 1968 |
| Veerendra Patil | Congress | May 29, 1968 – March 18, 1971 |
| Presidents Rule | March 19, 1971 – March 20, 1972 | |
| D. Devaraj Urs | Congress | March 20, 1972 – December 31, 1977 |
| Presidents Rule | December 31, 1977 – February 28, 1978 | |
| D. Devaraj Urs | Congress | February 28, 1978 – January 7, 1980 |
| R. Gundu Rao | Congress | January 12, 1980 – January 6, 1983 |
| Ramakrishna Hegde | Janata Party | January 10, 1983 – December 29, 1984 |
| Ramakrishna Hegde | Janata Party | March 8, 1985 – February 13, 1986 |
| Ramakrishna Hegde | Janata Party | February 16, 1986 – August 10, 1988 |
| S.R. Bommai | Janata Party | August 13, 1988 – April 21, 1989 |
| Presidents Rule | April 21, 1989 – November 30, 1989 | |
| Veerendra Patil | Congress | November 30, 1989 – October 10, 1990 |
| Presidents Rule | October 10, 1990 – October 17, 1990 | |
| S. Bangarappa | Congress | October 17, 1990 – November 19, 1992 |
| M. Veerappa Moily | Congress | November 19, 1992 – December 11, 1994 |
| H.D. Deve Gowda | Janata Dal | December 11, 1994 – May 31, 1996 |
| J.H. Patel | Janata Dal | May 31, 1996 – October 07, 1999 |
| S.M. Krishna | Congress | October 11, 1999 – May 28, 2004 |
| Dharam Singh | Congress [Congress-JD(s) coalition] | May 28, 2004 – Jan 27, 2006 |
| H D Kumaraswamy | JD(S) [BJP-JD(S) coalition] | Feb 3, 2006 – October 8, 2007 |
| Presidents Rule | October 9, 2007 – November 8, 2007 | |
| B S Yeddyurappa | BJP [BJP-JD(s) coalition] | November 12, 2007 – November 19, 2007 |
| Presidents Rule | November 20, 2007 – May 29, 2008 | |
| B S Yeddyurappa | BJP | 30 May 2008 – 31 July 2011 |
| D.V Sadananda Gowda | BJP | 4 August 2011 – 12 July 2012 |
| Jagadish Shivappa Shettar | BJP | 12 July 2012 – 12 May 2013 |
| Siddaramaiah | Congress | 13 May 2013 – 17 May 2018 |
| B S Yeddyurappa | BJP | May 17 2018 - May 19 2018 |
| H D Kumaraswamy | JD(S) [Congress-JD(S) coalition] | May 23, 2018 - July 23, 2019 |
| B S Yediyurappa | BJP | July 26, 2019 - July 28, 2021 |
| Basavaraj Bommai | BJP | July 28, 2021 - May 13, 2023 |
| Siddaramaiah | Congress | 20 May 2023 - Present |