Template:Infobox official post The governor of Tamil Nadu is the constitutional head and the representative of the president of India. In the state of Tamil Nadu, the governor holds an important position in ensuring that the administration functions according to the constitution of India. They are appointed by the president and serve as the nominal executive authority of the state. The governor’s official residences are the Lok Bhavan, located in Chennai and Udhagamandalam. The governor performs various duties, such as giving assent to bills passed by the state legislative assembly, appointing the chief minister, and overseeing the constitutional functioning of the state government. Although the real executive power lies with the council of ministers headed by the chief minister, the governor plays a vital role in maintaining the constitutional framework and stability of the state administration.[1]
The current incumbent is Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been serving as an additional charge since 12 March 2026.[2]
Qualifications
Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. They are as follows:
A governor:
- must be at least 35 years of age.
- should not be a member of either the houses of the parliament or the house of the state legislature.
- should not hold any office of profit.
Traditionally, governors are not appointed to lead the states where they reside, although this is not stipulated in the constitution.
Powers and functions
Template:See also The governor has:
- Executive powers related to administration, appointments and removals
- Legislative powers related to lawmaking and the state legislative assembly and
- Discretionary powers are to be carried out according to the discretion of the Governor.
In his ex-officio capacity, the governor of Tamil Nadu is chancellor of the universities of Tamil Nadu as per the Acts of the Universities.
Oath
“I, _________________ (Name of the appointee), do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of Governor (or discharge the functions of the Governor) of Tamil Nadu and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
List
- Key
- Template:Note label Resigned
- Template:Note label Died in office
- Template:Legend
- Template:Note label Transferred
| No. | Portrait | Name
(Birth–Death) |
Home state | Term of office | Appointed by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | 
|
Archibald Nye (1895–1967) |
Dublin | 15 August 1947 | 6 September 1948 | 1 year, 22 days | Lord Mountbatten |
| 2 | Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji (1912–1965) |
Gujarat | 7 September 1948 | 25 January 1950 | 1 year, 140 days | C. Rajagopalachari | |
- Development after independence
Madras State was a state in the Indian Republic, which was in existence during the mid-20th century as a successor to the Madras Province of British India. The state came into existence on 26 January 1950 when the Constitution of India was adopted and included the present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Keralam.
| No. | Portrait | Name
(Birth–Death) |
Home state | Term of office | Appointed by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji (1912–1965) |
Gujarat | 26 January 1950 | 11 March 1952 | 2 years, 45 days | Rajendra Prasad | |
| 2 | 
|
Sri Prakasa (1890–1971) |
Uttar Pradesh | 12 March 1952 | 9 December 1956 | 4 years, 272 days | |
| 3 | A. J. John (1893–1957) |
Keralam | 10 December 1956 | 30 September 1957Template:Ref label | 294 days | ||
| – | 
|
P. V. Rajamannar (1901–1979) (Acting) |
Tamil Nadu | 1 October 1957 | 24 January 1958 | 115 days | |
| 4 | 
|
Bishnu Ram Medhi (1888–1981) |
Assam | 24 January 1958 | 3 May 1964 | 6 years, 100 days | |
| 5 | File:Court portrait of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar of Mysore.jpg | Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar (1919–1974) |
Karnataka | 4 May 1964 | 23 November 1964 | 203 days | Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan |
| – | File:P. Chandra Reddy.jpg | P. Chandra Reddy (1904–1976) (Acting) |
Andhra Pradesh | 24 November 1964 | 7 February 1965 | 75 days | |
| (5) | File:Court portrait of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar of Mysore.jpg | Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar (1919–1974) |
Karnataka | 8 February 1965Template:Ref label | 14 August 1965 | 187 days | |
| – | File:P. Chandra Reddy.jpg | P. Chandra Reddy (1904–1976) (Acting) |
Andhra Pradesh | 13 August 1965Template:Ref label | 19 September 1965 | 37 days | |
| (5) | File:Court portrait of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar of Mysore.jpg | Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar (1919–1974) |
Karnataka | 20 September 1965Template:Ref label | 3 January 1966 | 105 days | |
| – | File:P. Chandra Reddy.jpg | P. Chandra Reddy (1904–1976) (Acting) |
Andhra Pradesh | 4 January 1966Template:Ref label | 27 June 1966 | 174 days | |
| 6 | File:Sardar Ujjal Singh portrait.jpg | Ujjal Singh (1895–1983) |
Punjab | 28 June 1966 | 16 June 1967 | 2 years, 199 days | |
| 17 June 1967 | 13 January 1969 | Zakir Husain | |||||
- Change in nomenclature
On 18 July 1967, the state legislative assembly unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that the state government take the necessary steps to secure an amendment to the Constitution of India aimed at changing the name of Madras State to Tamil Nadu. Consequently, the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 (Central Act 53 of 1968), was enacted by the Parliament of India and came into effect on 14 January 1969.
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- ↑ Durga Das Basu. Introduction to the Constitution of India. 1960. 20th edition, 2011 reprint. LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur. Template:ISBN. p. 237, 241–44. Note: although the text talks about Indian state governments in general, it applies for the specific case of Tamil Nadu as well.
- ↑ Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar assumes additional charge as Tamil Nadu Governor. The Hindu(12 March 2026). Retrieved 12 March 2026.
See also
- History of Tamil Nadu
- Politics of Tamil Nadu
- Lok Bhavan, Chennai
- Elections in Tamil Nadu
- Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
- List of current Indian governors
- Lok Bhavan, Udhagamandalam
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
- Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
- 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
References
External links
Template:Governors of Tamil Nadu Template:Current Indian governors