Synopsis
SM Krishna Death: Honored with the Padma Vibhushan last year, India’s second-highest civilian award, Krishna’s political journey began in 1962 after returning from the US and spanned six decades. He is widely credited with transforming Bengaluru into the Silicon Valley of India.
AgenciesFormer Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna passed away at his residence early Tuesday morning, his family told PTI.
The 92-year-old veteran politician was ailing for quite some time, a family source said.
“S M Krishna is no more. He breathed his last at 2:45 am at his residence. Mortal remains are likely to be taken to Maddur today,” the PTI source.
He is widely credited with transforming Bengaluru into the Silicon Valley of India.
After a long stint in the Congress, Krishna joined the BJP towards the fag end of his political career.
SM Krishna: A look at political life
Born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, Karnataka’s Mandya district, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna began his political journey in 1962 by winning the Maddur assembly seat as an independent candidate.
He later joined the Praja Socialist Party before becoming a member of the Congress party. In March 2017, after nearly 50 years with the Congress, he joined the BJP, marking a significant political shift.
Krishna resigned from the Congress in January 2017, criticizing the party’s “state of confusion” regarding its stance on mass leadership.
Krishna in January last year announced that he was retiring from active politics, citing his age as the reason.
S M Krishna served as the 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004, representing the Congress party.
He also held significant positions, including Governor of Maharashtra and External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government from 2009 to 2012.
A law graduate, Krishna pursued his education in the US, graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC, where he became a Fulbright Scholar.
Krishna also served as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1989-1993), Deputy Chief Minister (1993-1994), and was a member of both the Karnataka Assembly and Council. Additionally, he served multiple terms in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha between 1971 and 2014.
He became Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president ahead of the 1999 assembly elections, which led to a Congress victory and his subsequent appointment as Chief Minister.
