Recently, former Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena Singh was named as the next Chief Minister of Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal after discussions within the party.
Arvind Kejriwal resigned from his post on Tuesday after meeting Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena. Atishi, who is handling several important portfolios, is the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dixit and she is the youngest woman to hold this post.
List of women chief ministers of India
All women chief ministers of India from 1963 till date
Atishi Marlena Singh
Atishi Marlena Singh is going to become the youngest Chief Minister of India and the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Sheila Dixit and Sushma Swaraj. Earlier she was the Education Minister of Delhi and now she is going to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on 26-27 September after the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal.
mehbooba mufti
Mehbooba Mufti became the first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2016. Leading the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), her tenure saw political challenges in the region. She emphasised on peace-building and dialogue, but faced a lot of unrest during her leadership.
anandiben patel
Anandiben Patel served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2014 to 2016, succeeding Narendra Modi. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, she focused on social development, women empowerment and rural development during her tenure. She later became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh and continued her political career in a different capacity.
Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the All India Trinamool Congress, became the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2011. Known for her grassroots leadership, Mamata Banerjee has focused on social welfare, economic development, and reducing corruption.
vasundhra raje
Senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje served as the chief minister of Rajasthan in two terms: 2003-2008 and 2013-2018. Known for her leadership and administrative skills, she implemented several development programmes focused on infrastructure, women empowerment and economic growth, making her one of the most prominent political figures in Rajasthan.
uma bharti
Uma Bharti, a firebrand leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh from December 2003 to August 2004. Known for her Hindutva ideology, Bharti focused on improving the state’s infrastructure and agriculture sectors. She remains a prominent figure in Indian politics, especially in central India.
Shiela Dixit
Sheila Dixit served as the Chief Minister of Delhi for 15 years (1998-2013), making her the longest-serving female Chief Minister in India. Under her leadership, Delhi underwent significant infrastructure improvements, including the expansion of the metro and beautification projects. She was known for her efforts to make Delhi a modern city and improve its governance.
Sushma Swaraj
Sushma Swaraj briefly served as Delhi’s chief minister in 1998, making her the first woman to hold the position. A senior BJP leader, she later became a prominent national figure, best known for her work as India’s foreign minister, where she was widely respected for her diplomatic efforts and outreach to citizens abroad.
Rabri Devi
Rabri Devi became the Chief Minister of Bihar after her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav stepped down from the post. Serving for three terms between 1997 and 2005, she was the first woman to hold the position in Bihar. Despite facing criticism for her lack of political experience, she remained a prominent figure in Bihar politics.
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab from January 1996 to February 1997. Being a member of the Indian National Congress, she played a key role in stabilizing the political landscape of the state after several years of turmoil. Her leadership focused on agricultural reforms and improving rural infrastructure.
mayavathi
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati served four terms as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Known for her focus on the upliftment of Dalits and marginalised communities, Mayawati’s leadership emphasised on infrastructure development, law and order, and social welfare programmes, making her one of the most influential political leaders of the state.
J. Jayalalithaa
J. Jayalalithaa served five times as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu between 1991 and 2016. As an influential figure in state politics, she was known for her populist welfare schemes and strong leadership. She transformed the AIADMK into a powerful political force and left a lasting legacy in Tamil Nadu’s political history.
Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a short time after the death of her husband MG Ramachandran in January 1988. Her tenure as the leader of the AIADMK lasted only 23 days, the shortest tenure in Indian history. Her tenure was marked by political turmoil.
Sayeeda Anwara Taimur
Syeda Anwara Taimur became the first and only woman to become Chief Minister of Assam, a position she held from December 1980 to June 1981. As a member of the Indian National Congress she focused on improving Assam’s infrastructure and agricultural sectors, though her brief tenure was marked by political instability in the region.
Shashikala Kakodkar
Shashikala Kakodkar was the Chief Minister of Goa from August 1973 to April 1979. She was a member of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and took over from her father. Kakodkar worked to preserve Goa’s unique cultural identity and was involved in various development projects for the state during her tenure.
nandini satpathy
Nandini Satpathy, a prominent leader of Odisha, was the Chief Minister of the state from June 1972 to March 1973 and again from March 1974 to December 1976. Known for her strong political will, she emphasised on educational development, social welfare and agricultural reforms during her leadership, leaving a lasting impact on the state.
Sucheta Kriplani
Sucheta Kriplani became the first woman chief minister of India, serving the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) from October 1963 to March 1967. A freedom fighter and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, she played a key role in the Quit India Movement and focused on social welfare and women’s empowerment during her tenure.
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