The List of Most Popular Politicians in India

India is the world’s largest democracy, with a vibrant political landscape has produced numerous influential and celebrated leaders over the decades. From the architects of the nation’s independence to contemporary political heavyweights, the country has witnessed a diverse array of politicians who have left an indelible mark on its history and governance.

In this blog post, we aim to explore India’s most popular and influential politicians, whose names have become synonymous with political prowess, oratory skills, and unwavering commitment to the nation’s progress. These leaders have captured the imagination of millions, garnering widespread support and admiration for their vision, policies, and dedication to the cause of public service.

From the charismatic orators to the pragmatic administrators, the list encompasses politicians from various backgrounds, ideologies, and regions, reflecting the rich diversity of India’s political fabric. Their impact has transcended party lines, resonating with people across the nation and inspiring generations of political aspirants.

Whether you’re a political enthusiast, a history student, or simply someone interested in understanding the driving forces behind India’s political landscape, this list promises to offer valuable insights into the personalities and achievements that have shaped the nation’s destiny. The list with their website links is here.

Join us as we delve into the lives, legacies, and enduring influence of India’s most popular politicians, exploring the qualities that have elevated them to iconic status and examining their contributions to the country’s growth and development.

1. Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India) : Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India, a position he has held since May 2014. He is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading figure and a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member. Born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi rose from humble beginnings to become a dominant and polarizing figure in Indian politics. His tenure has been marked by significant economic reforms, digital innovation initiatives, and a strong stance on national security, though not without controversy.
2. Amit Shah (Home Minister of India) : Amit Shah serves as the Home Minister of India, a key position in the government since 2019. He is a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been instrumental in the party’s national expansion. Born on October 22, 1964, in Mumbai, Shah has a background in biochemistry but made his mark in politics with his organizational skills and strategic planning. His tenure is noted for policies on national security, the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
3. Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister of India): Nirmala Sitharaman is India’s Finance Minister, appointed in 2019, and the first woman to hold the portfolio full-time. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Born on August 18, 1959, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman worked in economics and academia before joining politics. Her tenure is notable for managing the Indian economy through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing various fiscal measures for economic recovery and growth.
4. Rajnath Singh (Defence Minister of India): Rajnath Singh has been the Defence Minister of India since 2019. A veteran politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Singh was born on July 10, 1951, in Bhabhaura, Uttar Pradesh. He has previously served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and as the Home Minister of India. His current tenure focuses on strengthening India’s defence capabilities, modernizing its armed forces, and promoting the indigenization of defence production.
5. S. Jaishankar (Minister of External Affairs of India): S. Jaishankar is the Minister of External Affairs of India, taking office in May 2019. He is a career diplomat and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member. Born on January 9, 1955, in New Delhi, Jaishankar has served as India’s Foreign Secretary and has had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service. His approach emphasizes pragmatism and strategic autonomy, enhancing India’s global presence and strengthening bilateral and multilateral relationships.
6. Yogi Adityanath (Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh): Yogi Adityanath is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, since March 2017. A monk and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, he was born on June 5, 1972, in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Known for his fiery speeches and a hardline stance on several issues, his governance focuses on law and order, development projects, and promoting religious tourism.
7. Mamata Banerjee (Chief Minister of West Bengal): Mamata Banerjee has been the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011. She founded the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC) in 1998 after separating from the Indian National Congress. Born on January 5, 1955, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Banerjee’s politics are characterized by her populist measures, strong opposition to the BJP at the national level, and emphasis on social welfare schemes and infrastructure development in West Bengal.
8. Arvind Kejriwal (Chief Minister of Delhi): Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi, leading the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to victory in the 2013, 2015, and 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. Born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana, he is a former civil servant turned politician. His governance focuses on education, healthcare, and reducing corruption, which has received national and international recognition.
9. K. Chandrashekhara Rao (Chief Minister of Telangana) : K. Chandrashekar Rao, often referred to as KCR, is the Chief Minister of Telangana, having assumed office in 2014 following the state’s formation. He is the founder and leader of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Born on February 17, 1954, in Chintamadaka, Telangana, Rao’s politics have centred on regional pride and development, water resources management, and welfare schemes for various communities.
10. M. K. Stalin (Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu): M. K. Stalin is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, assuming office in May 2021. He is the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), succeeding his father, M Karunanidhi. Born on March 1, 1953, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Stalin has been involved in Tamil Nadu politics from a young age, following in the footsteps of his father, a stalwart of the Dravidian movement. His administration focuses on social welfare, economic development, and upholding the rights of the Tamil people. Stalin’s tenure is also marked by efforts to improve the state’s infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems, aiming to make Tamil Nadu a model for other Indian states regarding governance and development.
11. Pinarayi Vijayan (Chief Minister of Kerala): Pinarayi Vijayan is the Chief Minister of Kerala, affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). Born on May 24, 1944, in Pinarayi, Kerala, Vijayan is known for his strong administrative capabilities and has been in office since May 2016. Under his leadership, Kerala has been praised for its progressive healthcare, education, and social welfare policies despite facing challenges like natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on development, environmental sustainability, and social equity marks Vijayan’s governance.
12. Naveen Patnaik (Chief Minister of Odisha): Naveen Patnaik has been the Chief Minister of Odisha since 2000, making him one of the longest-serving chief ministers in India’s history. He is the leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a party he founded in honour of his father, Biju Patnaik, a legendary figure in Indian politics. Born on October 16, 1946, in Cuttack, Odisha, Patnaik’s administration is noted for its emphasis on disaster management, rural development, and welfare programs, which have significantly improved Odisha’s socio-economic indicators.
13. Uddhav Thackeray (Chief Minister of Maharashtra): Uddhav Thackeray served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from November 2019 to June 2022. He is the leader of the Shiv Sena, a regional political party founded by his father, Bal Thackeray. Born on July 27, 1960, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Thackeray’s tenure was marked by efforts to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and the environment. His government, a coalition of ideologically diverse parties, navigated several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
14. Basavaraj Bommai (Chief Minister of Karnataka): Basavaraj Bommai is the Chief Minister of Karnataka, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Taking office in July 2021, he succeeded B.S. Yediyurappa. Born on January 28, 1960, in Hubli, Karnataka, Bommai has a background in engineering and agriculture. His administration focuses on technological innovation, water resources management, and improving the state’s infrastructure, aiming to bolster Karnataka’s position as a leading economic powerhouse in India.
15. Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh): Shivraj Singh Chouhan, affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for multiple terms, currently in office since March 2020. Born on March 5, 1959, in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan’s policies have focused on agricultural development, women’s empowerment, and social welfare. His tenure has seen initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of the rural poor and making strides in infrastructure development.
16. Ashok Gehlot (Chief Minister of Rajasthan): Ashok Gehlot is the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, representing the Indian National Congress. Born on May 3, 1951, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Gehlot has held the chief ministerial position for multiple terms, with the current one beginning in December 2018. His governance is characterized by focusing on social justice, healthcare, education, and efforts to boost the state’s economy through tourism and renewable energy projects.
17. Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar): Nitish Kumar has served as the Chief Minister of Bihar for multiple terms, currently in office and leading the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)). Born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiarpur, Bihar, Kumar’s political career is noted for his emphasis on governance reforms, infrastructure development, and efforts to improve health and education sectors in Bihar. His administration has also been recognized for initiating social reform and inclusive development policies.
18. Jagan Mohan Reddy (Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh): Jagan Mohan Reddy is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, leading the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSR Congress Party). Born on December 21, 1972, in Jammalamadugu, Andhra Pradesh, Reddy assumed office in May 2019. His tenure is marked by a focus on welfare schemes, healthcare, and education, with significant initiatives to support the underprivileged and enhance the state’s infrastructure.
19. Amarinder Singh (Former Chief Minister of Punjab): Amarinder Singh served as the Chief Minister of Punjab, representing the Indian National Congress during his terms. Born on March 11, 1942, in Patiala, Punjab, Singh has had a long and distinguished career in Indian politics, focusing on agriculture, rural development, and efforts to combat drug abuse in Punjab. His leadership also emphasized improving the state’s fiscal health and strengthening its security.
20. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (General Secretary of All India Congress Committee): Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, focusing on Uttar Pradesh. Born on January 12, 1972, in Delhi, she is a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, one of India’s most prominent political families. Though relatively new to active electoral politics, Vadra has become a significant figure in the Congress party, symbolizing its young leadership and commitment to progressive values. Her role involves rejuvenating the party’s grassroots, strategizing election campaigns, and advocating for women’s rights, education, and social justice issues. Vadra’s political approach is marked by her direct engagement with the public and efforts to address the concerns of the marginalized sections of society, aiming to restore the Congress party’s influence and reach across India.
21. Rahul Gandhi (Member of Parliament, Indian National Congress)
22. Akhilesh Yadav (President of Samajwadi Party)
23. Mayawati (President of Bahujan Samaj Party)
24. Arvind Sawant (Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena)
25. Smriti Irani (Minister of Women and Child Development)
26. Piyush Goyal (Minister of Commerce and Industry)
27. Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport and Highways)
28. Harsh Vardhan (Former Minister of Health and Family Welfare)
29. Prakash Javadekar (Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting)
30. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (Minister of Minority Affairs)
31. Ram Vilas Paswan (Founder of Lok Janshakti Party)
32. Sushma Swaraj (Former Minister of External Affairs)
33. Arun Jaitley (Former Minister of Finance)
34. Manohar Parrikar (Former Chief Minister of Goa)
35. J Jayalalithaa (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
36. M Karunanidhi (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
37. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Former Prime Minister of India)
38. Indira Gandhi (Former Prime Minister of India)
39. Sharad Pawar (President of the Nationalist Congress Party)
40. Chandrababu Naidu (Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh)
41. Mehbooba Mufti (Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir)
42. Omar Abdullah (Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir)
43. Tejasvi Yadav (Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar)
44. Yogi Adityanath (Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh)
45. Stalin (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
46. H. D. Deve Gowda (Former Prime Minister of India)
47. I. K. Gujral (Former Prime Minister of India)
48. Manmohan Singh (Former Prime Minister of India)
49. Subramanian Swamy (Member of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party)
50. Derek O’Brien (Member of Parliament, All India Trinamool Congress)
51. Ajit Pawar (Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra)
52. Asaduddin Owaisi (President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen)
53. Bahgat Singh Koshyari (Governor of Maharashtra)
54. Biplab Deb (Chief Minister of Tripura)
55. Chandrakanth Alva (Senior Congress Leader)
56. D. Raja (General Secretary of the Communist Party of India)
57. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Political Party – DMK)
58. Eknath Shinde (Leader of Shiv Sena faction)
59. Elamaram Kareem (Member of Parliament, CPI(M))
60. Ghulam Nabi Azad (Senior Congress Leader)
61. Hemant Soren (Chief Minister of Jharkhand)
62. Jagat Prakash Nadda (National President of Bharatiya Janata Party)
63. Jayant Chaudhary (President of Rashtriya Lok Dal)
64. Jibanananda Goswami (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President)
65. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Member of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party)
66. Kanhaiya Kumar (Activist and Politician)
67. Kalyan Banerjee (West Bengal BJP President)
68. Kharge (Congress Leader)
69. Mehboob Mufti (Member of Parliament, PDP)
70. Mithun Reddy (YSR Congress Party Leader)
71. Mukul Roy (Member of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party)
72. Murali Vijay (Tamil Nadu BJP Leader)
73. Naga People’s Front (Political Party – NPF)
74. Naveen Patnaik (Biju Janata Dal President)
75. Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)
76. Om Prakash Kohli (BJP Leader)
77. Pawan Kumar Bansal (Congress Leader)
78. Piyush Goyal (Union Minister of Textiles)
79. Prem Kumar Dhumal (Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh)
80. Priyanka Chaturvedi (Member of Parliament, Shiv Sena)
81. Purno Agitok Sanghati (Political Party – PAS)
82. Raghubar Das (Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand)
83. Rajnath Singh (Union Minister of Defence)
84. Ram Madhav (National General Secretary of BJP)
85. Ramdas Athawale (President of Republican Party of India (A))
86. Ravi Shankar Prasad (Union Minister for Law and Justice)
87. Rekha Sharma (Member of Parliament, BJP)
88. Sadananda Gowda (Former Chief Minister of Karnataka)
89. Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena Spokesperson)
90. Santosh Gangwar (Union Minister for Labour and Employment)
91. Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister for Ayush)
92. Satish Chandra Mishra (Bihar BJP President)
93. Sharad Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party President)
94. Shashi Tharoor (Member of Parliament, Indian National Congress)
95. Shiv Sena (Political Party)
96. Shweta Singh (BJP Leader)
97. Smriti Irani (Union Minister for Women and Child Development)
98. Sourav Ganguly (President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India)
99. Subhash Chandra Bose (Indian Nationalist)
100. Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Member of Parliament, Trinamool Congress)
101. Ajit Menderkar (Goa Forward Party Leader)
102. Akhilesh Dasgupta (Communist Party of India Leader)
103. Anand Sharma (Congress Leader)
104. Ashok Gehlot (Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan)
105. Bahujan Samaj Party (Political Party – BSP)
106. Balbir Singh Rajewal (Lok Insaaf Party Leader)
107. Biju Janata Dal (Political Party – BJD)
108. Chandrababu Naidu (Telugu Desam Party President)
109. Debabrata Saikia (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Leader)
110. Droupadi Murmu (President of India)
111. E. S. Sudarsan (Swadeshi Jagran Manch Leader)
112. Farooq Abdullah (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Leader)
113. G. K. Vasan (Tamil Maanila Congress Leader)
114. Ghulam Nabi Azad (Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir)
115. Gopalkrishna Gandhi (Former Governor of West Bengal)
116. Himanta Biswa Sarma (Chief Minister of Assam)
117. Jagat Singh Gill (Shiromani Akali Dal Leader)
118. Jai Ram Thakur (Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh)
119. Jaswant Singh (Former BJP Leader)
120. Jayalalithaa Jayaram (Former Tamil Nadu BJP Leader)
121. Jeevan Reddy (Telangana Rashtra Samithi Leader)
122. Jignesh Mevani (Independent Politician)
123. Jitin Prasada (Congress Leader)
124. Jogendra Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party Leader)
125. Kamal Nath (Congress Leader)
126. Kanimozhi (DMK Leader)
127. Kapil Sibal (Congress Leader)
128. Krishna Kumar (Telangana Rashtra Samithi Leader)
129. Kuldeep Bishen Singh Arora (Aam Aadmi Party Leader)
130. Lal Krishna Advani (Former BJP Leader)
131. Laloo Prasad Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal Leader)
132. Mamata Banerjee (Founder of All India Trinamool Congress)
133. Manish Tewari (Congress Leader)
134. Mayawati (Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh)
135. Meira Kumar (Former Lok Sabha Speaker)
136. Menaka Gandhi (BJP Leader)
137. Mehbooba Mufti (Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir)
138. Mukesh Agnihotri (Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President)
139. Mukul Wasnik (Congress Leader)
140. Murali Manohar Joshi (BJP Leader)
141. Murli Deora (Former Union Minister)
142. Mulayam Singh Yadav (Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh)
143. Naga People’s Front (Political Party – NPF)
144. Naga Peoples’ Front (Political Party – NPF) (Note: Different faction)
145. Namal Khaira (Shiromani Akali Dal Leader)
146. Narayan Rane (Union Minister for MSME)
147. N. Chandrababu Naidu (Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh)
148. Nitish Kumar (Founder of Janata Dal (United))
149. Om Prakash Kohli (Former BJP Leader)
150. Oppn (Collective term for Opposition Parties)
151. Pawan Kumar Bansal (Former Union Minister)
152. PK (Abbreviated Name for Various Politicians)
153. Prakash Javadekar (BJP Leader)
154. Praful Patel (Nationalist Congress Party Leader)
155. Prasada (Abbreviated Name for Various Politicians)
156. Prem Kumar Dhumal (Former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh)
157. Prithviraj Chavan (Congress Leader)
158. Purno Agitok Sanghati (Political Party – PAS)
159. Pushkar Singh Dhami (Chief Minister of Uttarakhand)
160. Radha Mohan Singh (BJP Leader)
161. Raghubar Das (Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand)
162. Rahul Gandhi (Former Congress President)
163. Raj Babbar (Congress Leader)
164. Rajendra Prasad (Former President of India)
165. Rajnath Singh (Former Union Minister of Home Affairs)
166. Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party Leader)
167. Ram Madhav (Former BJP Leader)
168. Ram Vilas Paswan (Founder of Lok Janshakti Party)
169. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ (Former Union
170. Ravi Shankar Prasad (Former Union Minister for Law and Justice)
171. Rekha Sharma (BJP Leader)
172. RJD (Abbreviation for Rashtriya Janata Dal)
173. S. Bangarappa (Former Chief Minister of Karnataka)
174. Sadananda Gowda (Former Chief Minister of Karnataka)
175. Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena Leader)
176. Santosh Gangwar (Former Union Minister for Labour and Employment)
177. Sarad Pawar (Founder of Nationalist Congress Party)
178. Satpal Maharaj (BJP Leader)
179. Satish Chandra Mishra (Bihar BJP Leader)
180. Savita Subhash (Shiv Sena Leader)
181. Sharad Yadav (Former Union Minister)
182. Shashi Tharoor (Congress Leader)
183. Sheila Dikshit (Former Chief Minister of Delhi)
184. Shiv Sena (Political Party)
185. Shweta Singh (BJP Leader)
186. Sonia Gandhi (Congress President)
187. Sourav Ganguly (Former Cricket Player and BCCI President)
188. Subhash Chandra Bose (Indian Nationalist)
189. Subramanian Swamy (BJP Leader)
190. Sudha Bharadwaj (Activist and Politician)
191. Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool Congress Leader)
192. Sushmita Dev (Congress Leader)
193. Syed Badsha Shah (Telangana Rashtra Samithi Leader)
194. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC)
195. Tejashwi Yadav (Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar)
196. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (Political Party – TRS)
197. Thaawar Chand Gehlot (BJP Leader)
198. Uddhav Thackeray (Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra)
199. Uma Bharti (BJP Leader)
200. Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy (Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh)

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Conclusion

As we come to the end of our exploration of India’s most popular politicians, it becomes evident that the nation’s political landscape has been shaped by a remarkable array of personalities, each leaving an indelible mark on the country’s history and governance.

From the visionary leaders who spearheaded India’s independence struggle to the contemporary torchbearers of progress and development, the politicians featured in this list have captured the hearts and minds of millions, transcending boundaries of caste, creed, and ideology.

Their unwavering commitment to public service, oratory prowess, and ability to connect with the masses have elevated them to iconic status, inspiring generations of aspiring leaders and serving as beacons of hope and change.

As India continues its journey as a thriving democracy, the legacies of these popular politicians will undoubtedly continue to resonate, serving as a testament to the nation’s rich political heritage and the enduring power of leadership.

Whether it’s the charismatic orators or the pragmatic administrators, the personalities on this list have left an indelible imprint on India’s socio-political fabric, their contributions paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for all citizens.

As we bid farewell to this exploration, it is our hope that the stories and achievements of these influential figures will inspire and motivate readers to engage more actively in the democratic process, to champion the causes they believe in, and to strive for a better tomorrow for India and its people.