Former Karnataka CM SM Krishna passes away

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna passed away at 2:45 am on Tuesday at his residence in Bengaluru. He was 92 and had been battling age-related ailments, according to family sources. His mortal remains are expected to be taken to Maddur later in the day, reported PTI.

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, born on May 1, 1932, in Mandya district, leaves behind his wife, Prema, and two daughters, Shambhavi and Malavika. A veteran politician with a career spanning over five decades, Krishna began his political journey in 1962 by winning the Maddur assembly seat as an independent candidate. He initially joined the Praja Socialist Party before aligning with the Congress, where he served in various key roles for nearly 50 years. In 2017, Krishna joined the BJP, citing dissatisfaction with the Congress’s direction.

Krishna served as Karnataka's 16th Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004, during which he played a pivotal role in transforming Bengaluru into India’s IT capital, earning it the title of ‘Silicon Valley of India.’ He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra (2004–2008) and as External Affairs Minister (2009–2012) in the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh.

A law graduate and Fulbright Scholar, Krishna pursued higher education at Southern Methodist University in Texas and The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. He was an accomplished parliamentarian, serving multiple terms in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Karnataka Assembly, and Council. Additionally, he held roles such as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1989–1993) and Deputy Chief Minister (1993–1994).

Krishna also led the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee during the 1999 assembly elections, steering the party to victory. In January 2023, he announced his retirement from active politics, citing his advancing age.