As per the Constitution of India, the Governor of Tripura is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister.

Following elections to the Tripura Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government.

The first was Sachindra Lal Singh of the Indian National Congress.

Manik Sarkar of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) served as chief minister of Tripura from 1998 to 2018; his reign was the longest in the state's history.

The incumbent is Manik Saha, who succeeded Biplab Kumar Deb both are from Bharatiya Janata Party.