S.M. Krishna in 2011, a file photo. The former Karnataka Chief Minister had been ailing from a respiratory infection for some time.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, passed away at 2:45 am this morning at his residence in Sadashivnagar, Bengaluru. The urbane politician, known for his eloquence had been ailing from a respiratory infection for some time, and had been hospitalised several times over the past year.
Born on May 1, 1932, in the village of Somanahalli in Maddur taluk of the then-Mysore district in south Karnataka, Krishna was 92 years old when he died.
He was Karnataka’s 16th Chief Minister and helmed the State between 1999 and 2004; he was instrumental turning Bengaluru into a global IT hub, by encouraging the foundation of the industry. He often stated that he wanted turn Bengaluru into Singapore, although he was criticised for his excessive focus on the State capital while ignoring other parts of Karnataka.
Even though he was a Vokkaliga, he transcended his narrow caste identity and was able to come to power in 1999 by building a wide support base for the Congress as the party won 132 seats in the 224-member Legislative Assembly.
Also Read | As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remains mired in corruption charges, Congress leaders lobby for his post
Condoling Krishna’s death, Kannada film star Shivarajkumar said: “I will never forget the role that Krishna played in securing the release of my father Rajkumar [Kannada film superstar] from the clutches of Veerappan in 2000.”
After completing his primary education in his village, Krishna moved to Mysore where he enrolled in high school. He got degrees in the Arts and Law from Mysore and the US, where he studied at the Southern Methodist University in Texas.
46 years with Congress
Krishna started his career as a member of the Praja Socialist Party and became an MLA for the first time in 1962 when he was elected from Maddur. In 1968, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandya and moved to the Congress, where he spent 46 years of his political career.
In this period, he served as an MLA, Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister, and Chief Minister. After this stint in State politics, he was appointed Governor of Maharashtra in 2004, a position he held until 2008. He was then appointed Union Minister of External Affairs in 2009. He resigned from this position in 2012 and returned to Karnataka with the intention of playing a greater role in State politics.
In a move that surprised political observers in Karnataka, Krishna joined the BJP in 2017 citing his “sidelining” by the Congress’s high command, and announced his retirement from active politics in 2023. He gracefully exited the political realm of Karnataka, which he had dominated for several decades. Besides his political achievements, Krishna was also known as an avid tennis player.
Also Read | Karnataka: Congress still hunting for a compelling strategy
Announcing his death, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, who was, at the start of his political career, considered a protégé of Krishna, said: “A government holiday has been declared tomorrow [December 11]. His body can be viewed in Bengaluru till 8 am tomorrow from where it will be moved to his village in Maddur.” He added that the final rites will be performed with State honours.
Reactions to Krishna’s demise have poured in from senior politicians across the country. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “His service to Karnataka and the country as Chief Minister and Union Minister remains unparalleled. Karnataka will forever remain indebted to him for the support he gave to the development of the IT-BT industry.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “Sri S.M. Krishna was an extraordinary leader and was loved by all sections of society. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people.”
Krishna is survived by his wife, Prema Krishna and two daughters, Malavika and Shambhavi. Malavika’s husband, V. G. Siddhartha, founder of the Café Coffee Day chain, died by suicide in 2019.
