Former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, credited with turning Bengaluru into an IT powerhouse, died in the wee hours of the morning. He was 92 years old. Krishna breathed his last at his residence in Bengaluru around 2:45 AM after his health condition deteriorated over the past few days.
The Karnataka government announced that his last rites would be performed with full state honors in Mandya district on Tuesday, with a three-day state mourning.
Born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, Mandya district, SM Krishna had an illustrious political career, which also included a significant tenure as the External Affairs Minister. He started his political career with the Congress party but joined the BJP in the fag end of his career.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his deep sorrow over Krishna’s demise, saying that he was an extraordinary leader who worked without rest to make a difference in the lives of others. The Prime Minister recalled Krishna’s work as Chief Minister, especially in terms of infrastructure development, and his love for reading and intellectual pursuits.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was shocked to hear the news, underlining that Krishna’s service as a State and Union Minister was incomparable. He recalled Krishna’s immense contribution to the growth of IT and BT sectors in Karnataka and said the state would remain indebted to him. Siddaramaiah also remembered the guidance given by Krishna during his initial days in Congress.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu praised Krishna as a true leader who prioritized the welfare of his people. He reflected on their friendship, which transcended competition in attracting investments to their states, and extended heartfelt condolences to Krishna’s family and friends during this challenging time.
A graduate from Maharaja’s College in Mysuru, Krishna did his law from Government Law College in Bengaluru before heading to the US for higher education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar.
Krishna’s political career began in 1962 when he won the Maddur assembly seat as an Independent, defeating prominent Congress politician KV Shankar Gowda. He entered Parliament in 1968 after winning the Mandya by-election, but returned to state politics in 1972, resuming his role in the Lok Sabha in 1980.
He joined the Congress party in 1971 after a stint with the Praja Socialist Party and led the party to victory in 1999 as state unit chief and then became Chief Minister. Krishna was Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008 before he became Foreign Minister in 2009.
