Nagaland, a northeastern state of India, was established on 1st December 1963 and has since undergone a unique and evolving political journey. Over the years, 11 individuals from 7 different political parties have served as Chief Ministers, each bringing their own vision and contributing to the state’s development in various ways. As of 2025, the Current Chief Minister of Nagaland is Shri Neiphiu Rio. He has served three consecutive terms in office and remains the only leader in the state’s history to achieve this distinction.
Chief Ministers of Nagaland
Nagaland, a northeastern state of India, was established on 1st December 1963. The First Chief Minister of Nagaland was P. Shilu Ao, who represented the Naga Nationalist Organisation in Nagaland from December 1963 to August 1966. The Shortest-Serving Chief Minister of Nagaland is John Bosco Jasokie, who served for a period of 10 days from 10 March 1975 to 20 March 1975. As of 2025, the Chief Minister of the state is Shri Neiphiu Rio.
List of Chief Ministers of Nagaland from 1963 to 2025
The First Chief Minister of Nagaland was P. Shilu Ao, who represented the Naga Nationalist Organisation from December 1963 to August 1966. The Shortest-Serving Chief Minister of Nagaland is John Bosco Jasokie, holding office for a period of 10 days from 10 March 1975 to 20 March 1975. There are two Major Ruling Parties in Nagaland – the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party and the Naga People’s Front. Below is a List of Chief Ministers of Nagaland from 1963-2025, spanning from the state’s formation in 1963 to the present.
| First Chief Minister of Nagaland | |||
| Name of the CM | Tenure | Party | Constituency |
| P. Shilu Ao | 1 Dec 1963 – 14 Aug 1966 | Naga Nationalist Organization (NNO) | Impur |
| T. N. Angami | 14 Aug 1966 – 22 Feb 1969 | NNO | Chakhroma |
| Hokishe Sema | 22 Feb 1969 – 26 Feb 1974 | United Democratic Front (UDF) | Atoizu |
| Vizol Koso | 26 Feb 1974 – 10 Mar 1975 | UDF | Southern Angami-I |
| President’s Rule | 10 Mar 1975 – 25 Nov 1977 | — | — |
| Vizol Koso | 25 Nov 1977 – 18 Apr 1980 | UDF | Southern Angami-I |
| S. C. Jamir | 18 Apr 1980 – 5 Jun 1980 (1st term) | Indian National Congress (INC) | Mokokchung Town |
| John Bosco Jasokie | 5 Jun 1980 – 18 Nov 1982 | Naga National Democratic Party | Kohima Town |
| President’s Rule | 18 Nov 1982 – 5 Mar 1983 | — | — |
| S. C. Jamir | 5 Mar 1983 – 28 Oct 1986 (2nd term) | INC | Mokokchung Town |
| Hokishe Sema | 29 Oct 1986 – 7 Aug 1988 | INC | Atoizu |
| President’s Rule | 7 Aug 1988 – 25 Jan 1989 | — | — |
| S. C. Jamir | 25 Jan 1989 – 10 May 1990 (3rd term) | INC | Mokokchung Town |
| Vamüzo Phesao | 19 Jun 1990 – 2 Apr 1992 | Nagaland People’s Council (NPC) | Chozuba |
| President’s Rule | 2 Apr 1992 – 22 Feb 1993 | — | — |
| S. C. Jamir | 22 Feb 1993 – 6 Mar 2003 (4th term) | INC | Mokokchung Town |
| Neiphiu Rio | 6 Mar 2003 – 3 Jan 2008 (1st term) | Naga People’s Front (NPF) | Northern Angami-II |
| President’s Rule | 3 Jan 2008 – 12 Mar 2008 | — | — |
| Neiphiu Rio | 12 Mar 2008 – 24 May 2014 (2nd term) | NPF | Northern Angami-II |
| T. R. Zeliang | 24 May 2014 – 19 Jul 2017 | NPF | Peren |
| Shürhozelie Liezietsu | 22 Feb 2017 – 19 Jul 2017 | NPF | Northern Angami-I |
| T. R. Zeliang | 19 Jul 2017 – 8 Mar 2018 | NPF | Peren |
| Neiphiu Rio | 8 Mar 2018 – 7 Mar 2023 (3rd term) | Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) | Northern Angami-II |
| Neiphiu Rio | 7 Mar 2023 – Present (4th term) | NDPP | Northern Angami-II |
Also Read: Chief Ministers of Jharkhand
First Chief Minister of Nagaland
The First Chief Minister of Nagaland was P. Shilu Ao. He became the Chief Minister of Nagaland on 1st December 1963 when the state was formed, representing the Naga Nationalist Organisation from December 1963 to August 1966. P. Shilu Ao was a key figure in the initial administrative establishment of the state as he played a part in the formation of Nagaland as a state. During his time as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, P. Shilu Ao was dedicated to the betterment of the state and its people.
Current Chief Minister of Nagaland
The Current Chief Minister of Nagaland is Neiphiu Rio, representing the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and ruling in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He took office on 8th March 2018 in his fourth term. The Current Chief Minister of Nagaland is widely respected for bringing in stability and a developmental focus to the state.
Longest-serving Chief Minister of Nagaland
Neiphiu Rio is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Nagaland, representing the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) for more than 15 years. Initially taking office in 2003, he was the First Chief Minister in the history of the state to serve a complete five-year term. He served three continuous terms from 2003 to 2014 and came back in power, becoming the Chief Minister of Nagaland once again in the year 2018.
Chief Ministers of Nagaland FAQs
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