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Since its inception in 1947, West Bengal has seen a diverse array of political leaders at its helm. The role of the Chief Minister is pivotal in navigating the socio-economic landscape of this culturally rich state. From the early days of independence to the historic 34-year Left Front rule and the current Trinamool Congress era, understanding who led the state and for how long offers a glimpse into Bengal's democratic journey.
Longest Serving Chief Minister of West Bengal
Jyoti Basu is the longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal who was one of the founding members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Jyoti Basu served as the head of the Left Front government for five consecutive terms.
Key Highlights of Jyoti Basu’s Tenure:
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Duration: 23 years and 137 days.
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Period: June 21, 1977, to November 5, 2000.
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Political Party: CPI(M).
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Legacy: He was instrumental in implementing land reforms (Operation Barga) and the Panchayati Raj system, which significantly impacted rural West Bengal.
At the time of his retirement in 2000, he was the longest-serving Chief Minister in Indian history, a record later surpassed by Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim and Naveen Patnaik of Odisha.
Who was the First Chief Minister of West Bengal?
The first "Premier" (the title used before the Republic of India was established) of West Bengal was Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh. His term started August 15, 1947 to January 22, 1948 form Indian National Congress.
He was followed by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who is often referred to as the "Maker of Modern West Bengal" and served as the first Chief Minister after the formal adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950,
Total CM List West Bengal form 1947
The following table provides a chronological list of the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and their respective tenures:
| Sl. No. | Name of Chief Minister | Political Party | Tenure Period |
| 1 | Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh | Indian National Congress | 1947 – 1948 |
| 2 | Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy | Indian National Congress | 1948 – 1962 |
| 3 | Prafulla Chandra Sen | Indian National Congress | 1962 – 1967 |
| 4 | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Bangla Congress | 1967 (1st Term) |
| 5 | Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh | Independent/PC Front | 1967 – 1968 |
| - | President's Rule | - | 1968 – 1969 |
| 6 | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Bangla Congress | 1969 – 1970 (2nd Term) |
| - | President's Rule | - | 1970 – 1971 |
| 7 | Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee | Indian National Congress | 1971 (3rd Term) |
| - | President's Rule | - | 1971 – 1972 |
| 8 | Siddhartha Shankar Ray | Indian National Congress | 1972 – 1977 |
| 9 | Jyoti Basu | CPI(M) | 1977 – 2000 |
| 10 | Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee | CPI(M) | 2000 – 2011 |
| 11 | Mamata Banerjee | Trinamool Congress | 2011 – Present |
Jyoti Basu still remains the longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal, having led the state for an unprecedented 23 years in his leadership, defining an era of land reform and political stability under the Left Front. Mamata Banerjee is the current CM of West Bengal’s first Female and second longest serving CM of the state. She has been in power since May 2011, currently serving her third consecutive term.
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