| Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | |
|---|---|
| Tamiḻnāṭu Tuṇai Mutalamaiccar | |
 | |
Incumbent Vacant since 7 May 2021 | |
| Nominator | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |
| Appointer | Governor of Tamil Nadu |
| Inaugural holder | M. K. Stalin |
| Formation | 29 May 2009 |
| Website | www |
The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is the deputy to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who is the head of the government of Tamil Nadu. The deputy chief minister is the Council of Ministers of Tamil Nadu's second-highest-ranking member.[1] A deputy chief minister also holds a cabinet portfolio in the state ministry. In the legislative assembly system of government, the chief minister is treated as the "first among equals" in the cabinet; the position of deputy chief minister is used to govern the state with the support of a single party member, to bring political stability and strength within a coalition government, or in times of state emergency when a proper chain of command is necessary. On multiple occasions, proposals have arisen to make the post permanent, but without result. The same goes for the post of deputy prime minister at the national level.
The office has since been only intermittently occupied, having been occupied for a little more than 5 years out of the 14 years since its inauguration. Since 2009, Tamil Nadu has had 2 deputy chief ministers, none of whom have served at least one full term. The first was former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi's third son, M. K. Stalin[2] of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, who was sworn in on 29 May 2009; he was also rural development and local administration minister in Karunanidhi's fifth ministry. The position was vacant until All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's O. Panneerselvam[3] took over; he became the second deputy chief minister on 21 August 2017 and took on the role in addition to his finance ministership in Edappadi K. Palaniswami's government. He was the last person to serve as the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu until the post became vacant.
The current government does not have a deputy chief minister, and the post has been vacant since 7 May 2021.
