[1] A deputy chief minister also holds a cabinet portfolio in the state ministry.

On multiple occasions, proposals have arisen to make the post permanent, but without result.

Since 2009, Tamil Nadu has had 3 deputy chief ministers; none of them have served at least one full term.

The position was first occupied by the 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 ministry.