Kumar Bahukhandi
He gave recognition to Bangalore in the world, left no stone unturned in promoting the IT sector; Such was SM Krishna
State BJP president BY Vijayendra expressed grief over the demise of former Karnataka CM SM Krishna. He said that we have lost a great leader and former CM SM Krishna. This is the saddest thing. SM Krishna was known as ‘Ajatashatru’.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna (SM Krishna) passed away on Tuesday December 10 , 2024 morning at the age of 92. He breathed his last at his home in Bangalore. Krishna is survived by his wife Prema Krishna and two daughters Malavika Krishna and Shambhavi Krishna.
In January last year, he announced his retirement from active politics, citing his age. He is credited with putting Bangalore on the global map and developing it as an IT hub. In fact, it was during his tenure that many important steps were taken to promote the IT sector. As a result, Bangalore came to be known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over his demise. He tweeted, ‘SM Krishna was an extraordinary leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is remembered for his tenure as Chief Minister of Karnataka, especially for his focus on infrastructure development. SM Krishna was also a prolific reader and thinker.’
Five things you must know…
Born on 1 May 1932 in Somanahalli in Mandya district of Karnataka, SM Krishna has also been the Minister of External Affairs and Governor of Maharashtra.
Law graduate SM Krishna did his graduation from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and George Washington University Law School in Washington DC in the US. Here he was a Fulbright Scholar.
He served as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from December 1989 to January 1993. He was also a member of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha several times between 1971 and 2014.
He was the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee before the 1999 assembly elections, which the party won and he became the Chief Minister.
He was associated with the Praja Socialist Party before joining the Congress. Ending his nearly 50-year-long association with the Congress, SM Krishna joined the BJP in March 2017.
Who Was SM Krishna Veteran Politician Who Put Bengaluru On Global Map Latest News Update
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Let us now know SM Krishna in detail…
In his five-decade political career, 92-year-old Krishna played roles in the central and state government, there would be very few politicians who would have worked in positions like him. He served as Legislative Council, Assembly Member, Speaker, Deputy Chief Minister, Union Foreign Minister and Governor. Born on May 1, 1932 in Somanahalli in Mandya district of Karnataka, Krishna started his electoral campaign by winning as an independent candidate from Maddur seat against Congress veteran KV Shankar Gowda in the 1962 assembly elections. Later he joined the Praja Socialist Party and then joined the Congress.
Fulbright Scholar
He graduated from Maharaja College in Mysore and obtained a law degree from the Government Law College here. Krishna studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA and later at George Washington University, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. The Fulbright Program, the flagship program of the United States for international educational and cultural exchange, provides scholarships to students and scholars in more than 160 countries for study, teaching and research. In India, he worked as a professor of international law at Renukacharya Law College.
He first entered Parliament as a socialist MP in 1968 and became a member of the fourth Lok Sabha. Krishna was also elected to the fifth Lok Sabha, but in 1972 he chose to return to state politics. He was elected to the Legislative Council and was made Minister of Commerce, Industry and Parliamentary Affairs, a post he held from 1972 to 1977. He returned to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and was Minister of State for Industry from 1983-84 and Minister of State for Finance from 1984-85.
Was Foreign Minister in Manmohan Singh-led Government
An expert in law, Krishna became the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1989 and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1992. In 1996, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha and was its member till October 1999. He was the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee before the 1999 assembly elections, which the party won. He was the Chief Minister from October 1999 to May 2004. He served as the Governor of Maharashtra from December 2004 to March 2008 and as the Foreign Minister in the Manmohan Singh-led government from May 2009 to October 2012.
Ended 50-year-old relationship with Congress
In 2017, he joined the BJP, ending his nearly 50-year-old association with the Congress. He announced his retirement from politics on January 7, 2023.
