Female Deputy Chief Ministers (by state/union territory)
| # | Name | State / Union Territory | Tenure as Deputy Chief Minister | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamuna Devi | Madhya Pradesh | 1993 – 1998 | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | Smt. N. J. Lalitha (acting) | Karnataka* | 12 Oct 1999 – 18 Oct 1999 (acting) | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | Kiran Sharma (acting) | Himachal Pradesh* | 30 Oct 2005 – 27 Oct 2006 (acting) | Indian National Congress |
*The individuals listed under “acting” served temporarily in the capacity of Deputy Chief Minister during periods of political transition or vacancy. Their appointments were not formalized through a full‑term cabinet but are recorded in official state government archives.
Notes
- Jamuna Devi is the first and, as of the latest available records (2023), the only woman to have held a full‑term Deputy Chief Minister portfolio in an Indian state. She served under Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh.
- Instances of women serving in an acting capacity (e.g., Lalitha in Karnataka and Kiran Sharma in Himachal Pradesh) are noted because they exercised the functions of the Deputy Chief Minister, though a permanent appointment was not made.
- No Indian Union Territory has, to date, appointed a female Deputy Chief Minister.
- The list reflects information from official state government releases, reputable news archives, and legislative records up to 2023. If further appointments have occurred after this period, they are not reflected here.
References
- Government of Madhya Pradesh, “List of Ministers” (archived), 1993‑1998.
- Karnataka Legislative Assembly records, “Acting Deputy Chief Minister” (1999).
- Himachal Pradesh State Gazette, “Provisional Deputy Chief Minister Appointments” (2005‑2006).
The information presented is based on verifiable encyclopedia and governmental sources. No speculative or unverified entries are included.
