O Panneerselvam joins a long list of chief ministers who failed to complete their tenure for various reasons in the State. He himself is a three-time stopgap CM.
April 10, 1952 - April 13, 1954
Chief Minister: C Rajagopalachari
Reason: Rajaji resigned as the president of the Madras Congress Legislative party after K Kamaraj withdrew support. He put in his papers citing failing health.
March 15 1962 - October 2 1963
Chief Minister: K Kamaraj
Reason: Kamaraj resigned from chief ministership and called for the voluntary resignations of high-level National and State officials in order to devote their efforts to rebuilding the Congress Party at the grassroots following India’s disastrous border war with China. This came to be known as Kamaraj Plan.
March 6, 1967 - February 3, 1969
Chief Minister: Dr C N Annadurai
Reason: After Annadurai’s death on February 3, 1969, Nedunchezhiyan was the acting Chief Minister before M Karunanidhi was sworn in on February 10, 1969. His term lasted till January 4, 1971.
March 15, 1971 - January 31, 1976
Chief Minister: M Karunanidhi
President’s Rule: January 31, 1976 - June 30, 1977
Reason: The President dissolved the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly after Governor said “a situation has arisen in the state in which the government can no longer be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”
June 30, 1977 - Feb 17, 1980
Chief Minister: M G Ramachandran
President’s Rule: February 17, 1980 - June 9, 1980
Reason: Part of Indira Gandhi’s design to dissolve Assemblies of nine states ruled by non-Congress-I parties.
Feb 10, 1985 - Dec 24, 1987 (Assembly election held on Dec 24, 1984)
Chief Minister: M G Ramachandran
V R Nedunchzhiyan made the acting Chief Minister (Dec 24, 1987 - Jan 7, 1988) after the death of MGR on December 24, 1987
Jan 7, 1988 - Jan 30, 1988
Chief Minister: Janaki Ramachandran
President’s Rule: January 30, 1988 - Jan 27, 1989
Reasons: President R Venkataraman dissolved Assembly after Governor criticised the conduct of Speaker P H Pandian and said it was improper on his part to have adjourned the Assembly
frequently on Jan 28 instead of proceeding with the trust vote sought by the Janaki govt. He also made adverse comments about the manner in which the Janaki ministry secured the confidence vote of 99 members in the 235-member Assembly.
Jan 27, 1989 - Jan 30, 1991 (Assembly election held on Jan 21, 1989)
Chief Minister: M Karunanidhi
President’s Rule: Jan 30, 1991 - June 24, 1991
Reason: DMK govt sacked, Assembly dissolved because of a soft line on LTTE, which managed to “carve out areas of influence” in some parts of the State. Their activities went on unchecked in the coastal areas. Certain instances of passing arms & ammunition to the LTTE through underground channels came to the notice of the Centre.