<P> In the Republic of India, a chief minister is the head of government of each of twenty - nine states and two union territories (Delhi and Puducherry). According to the Constitution of India, at the state - level, the governor is de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister . Following elections to the state 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 he has the assembly's confidence, the chief minister's term is usually for a maximum of five years; there are no limits to the number of terms he / she can serve . </P> <P> Of the thirty - one incumbents, three are women--Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu and Kashmir, and Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan . Serving since December 1994 (for 7003837400000000000 ♠ 22 years, 338 days), Sikkim's Pawan Kumar Chamling has the longest incumbency . Virbhadra Singh (b . 1934) of Himachal Pradesh is the oldest chief minister, while Arunachal Pradesh's Pema Khandu (b . 1979) is the youngest . Thirteen incumbents belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party, six to the Indian National Congress and two to the Communist Party of India (Marxist); no other party has more than one chief minister in office . </P>

Who is the chief minister of india at present