By Hemant SharmaTo be honest, yes, Chief ministers in India are among the most important parts of the Indian government, and they’re the ones with the power to chase development and run everything smoothly in the country, especially in their respective states or regions. Though, in recent years, we have seen the rise of Chief Minister popularity in the country, and some of these CMs have been all-time popular in the country. Take, for example, Yogi Adityanath, who was at one point one of the most powerful and popular CMs in the country. So, just like that, let’s have a look at the top 10 most powerful chief ministers in India. Alright, here we go now.
1.Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh)
Ok, so, there is no way anyone else could have taken the first spot on this list of the most powerful Chief Ministers in India other than Yogi Adityanath. There is a reason why he is actually the longest-serving CM of Uttar Pradesh so far. Before he became UP’s Chief Minister back in 2017, he had actually served in India’s parliament for almost 2 decades, like 1998 to 2017. We’ll be straight up here, people like Yogi Adityanath because of his dedication to improving things and strict policies that are there to fix root causes.
2.Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra)
Remember who became the youngest-ever Mayor of Nagpur and the second-youngest mayor in the history of India? Yes, we’re talking about the current CM of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis himself, yes, the one who was previously the Minister for Protocol of Maharashtra. Since he had done great work in Maharashtra already, and BJP was looking for a strong candidate to be the CM, that’s why Devendra Fadnavis was chosen for the role, and he’s just perfect. He’s the one to solve the water crisis back in Nagpur, and so far, he’s implementing some good changes in the State.
3. Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam)
How about a professional and experienced lawyer serving as a Chief Minister? That sounds like a good thing because their experience would be helpful in serving as a CM, right? Well, that’s what we’re seeing with Himanta Biswa Sarma, the current CM of Assam. And just so you know, he actually is a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party. He has been serving as the CM of Assam ever since he won the Jalukbari Assembly Constituency back in 2021. And on top of that, he’s also the President of the Badminton Association of India.
4. N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh)
The next powerful CM on this list is none other than the 13th serving Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and yes, we’re talking about N. Chandrababu Naidu. But do you know that at one point in time (back in the 1990s) he also was an architect of HITEC City in Hyderabad? Yes, that’s true! He really has a lot of experience in various fields, and that’s why in 2025, he is a good and powerful Chief Minister candidate for this list.
5.Nitish Kumar (Bihar)
Next up is Nitish Kumar, yes, the longest-serving CM of Bihar as of 2025. As many of you may already know, he’s actually the leader of Janata Dal (United) as well. In every election in the country, Nitish Kumar is one person who always catches everyone’s attention for different reasons. After serving for 9 terms so far, one thing we must say is that he sure is a powerful man because it takes dedication to be a CM for that long. And he has exactly that!
6. Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal)
Didi? Yes, we’re talking about Mamata Banerjee now, again, the current CM of West Bengal as of 2025. It was back in the 1990s when she rose to fame for raising the voice of the common people in West Bengal. And look at her now, she has been in office ever since 2011. That’s a long time now, if you think about it for a sec. Sure, she is part of many discussions in the country, both good and bad, but you have to agree that she sure is a powerful woman serving as a CM.
7. M. K. Stalin (Tamil Nadu)
Let’s now look at what is going on in the Southern part of the country, shall we? Yes, we’re talking about another powerful and popular figure in the South. M. K. Stalin! As a Chief Minister, he has been in office since 2021, and he’s also the current president of the DMK Party as of 2025. He sure is a strong and powerful man and that’s the reason why he was ranked among the most powerful personalities in India by the Indian Express media outlet.
8.Bhagwant Mann (Punjab)
Alright, now’s a man who has been a former comedian, singer, and actor, yet, he made it to this list of the powerful Chief Ministers in India because he truly deserves that. We’re talking about Bhagwant Mann, the current and 17th CM of Punjab as of 2025. He started serving back in 2022, and he’s kinda representing AAP really well in the region right now.
9. Siddaramaiah (Karnataka)
Here comes another Congress party member who’s a really successful Chief Minister in the country. Though he got back in office recently in 2023, he has done really great things in the past too. Like, he has been the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, a member of the Janata Dal and Janata Dal (Secular), and also was the opposition leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
10.Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala)
Kerala is one of the lesser talked about states in politics, but sure enough, one name you must get to know a little better. We’re talking about the 12th CM of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, which has been in the office since 2016. Nothing too aggressive or strict about him, he is a calm yet powerful personality, and that’s what matters.
Conclusion
When it comes to the attitude of the Chief Ministers in the country, these are by far the most dedicated as well as powerful ones in India. Sure, as per your thoughts and experiences, the list may be a little different, but by popular opinion, this is the correct ranking of these Chief Ministers.