The state of Tamil Nadu in India has had 25 Governors since 1946
Tamil Nadu is a state in southern India. Like all states, the governor is a nominal head and representative of the President of India. He or she is appointed by the president for a five year term. This list includes both nominated and acting heads of state in the history of the state of Tamil Nadu in India since 1946. The area under the present-day state of Tamil Nadu has been part of different territorial configurations under Madras Presidency and Madras State in its history.[1][2]
The current governor is Surjit Singh Barnala, who took office on 3 November 2004; his term will expire in 2009.
Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu (Tamil for Tamil country) on 14 January, 1969.[2] Governors have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the President of India at the Central government level. The Governor acts as the nominal head of the state while the Chief Ministers of the states and the Chief Minister's Council of Ministers are invested with most executive powers.
Surjit Singh Barnala is the only appointed Governor to have served two terms in office (24 May 1990–15 February 1991 and 3 November 2004–present).
The longest term in office was that of Sundar Lal Khurana who served as the Governor for a period of almost five and a half years (13 September 1982–17 February 1988).
The shortest term in office was that of M. M. Ismail who served as the acting Governor for a period of nine days (27 October 1980–4 November 1980).
^ ab The ordinal number of the term being served by the person specified in the row in the corresponding period
^ This term is a continuation of the Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur's first term. P. Chandra Reddy served as the acting Governor while Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur was on foreign tours.
