<P> The Chief Minister of Punjab, a north Indian state, is the head of the Government of Punjab . As per the Constitution of India, the Governor of Punjab is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister . Following elections to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government . The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly . Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits . </P> <P> In 1935 the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, 1935 which created the Punjab Legislative Council, the first elections for which were held in 1937 . In these elections, the Unionist Party won 95 seats and its leader Sir Sikander Hayat Khan formed the government and became the first Premier of Punjab . </P> <P> Since 1947, Punjab has had fifteen chief ministers . The first was Gopi Chand Bhargava of the Indian National Congress party, who was sworn - in on 15 August 1947, when India gained independence from the British . He was succeeded by fellow Congressman Bhim Sen Sachar, who was then subsequently replaced after 188 days by former Chief Minister Gopi Chand Bhargava . After a brief term, President Rajendra Prasad placed the Punjab Legislative Assembly under suspension for ninth months to help the state government gets its act together . In 1952, the first state elections took place for the Legislative Assembly . The results of the election saw the return of the Congress government with former Chief Minister Bhim Sen Sachar as its leader . After he resigned in 1956, Partap Singh Kairon became chief minister . Serving until 1964, Khairon remain's one of Punjab's longest - serving chief ministers . He was followed by the returning Chief Minister Gopi Chand Bhargava, who briefly held office as acting chief minister for only 15 days . In July 1964, Ram Kishan assumed the office and served for two years . His tenure was followed by the President's rule which lasted for 119 days . During this time, the state of Haryana was separated from Punjab . </P> <P> The first chief minister of the newly re-configured state was Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir who led a Congress government from the Vidhan Parishad, one of only two to have done so . In the 1967 elections, he was voted out of power in favour of the Akali Das Sant Fateh Singh Group whose leader Gurnam Singh became the first non-Congress chief minister . Gurnam Singh's government was succeeded by three short - lived Akali Dal governments--Lachhman Singh Gill's government for less than a year and for a little more than a year under the returning Gurnam Singh and Parkash Singh Badal . After 272 days under President's rule, the Congress party returned to power under future President Zail Singh . In 1977, Parkash Singh Badal became the chief minister for the second time . Darbara Singh became chief minister in 1980 and remained in office for three years before a long period under President's rule . A brief interlude under Surjit Singh Barnala followed, after which three Congress - led governments took office--led by Beant Singh from 1992 to 1995, Harcharan Singh Brar from 1995 to 1996 and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from 1996 to 1997 . Upon taking office, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal became the first female chief minister of Punjab and overall the 8th female chief minister in India . </P>

Who was the first chief minister of punjab after independence