Veteran politician Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, aged 92, passed away after a prolonged illness, a family source confirmed. He breathed his last at 2:45 AM at his residence, and his mortal remains are expected to be taken to Maddur today, the source added.
Krishna is survived by his wife, Prema, and two daughters. As a mark of respect to the veteran leader, the Karnataka government has announced a three-day state mourning from December 10 to 12. His last rites will be held with full state honors in his native Mandya district on Wednesday.
Born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, Mandya district, S M Krishna entered electoral politics in 1962 by winning the Maddur assembly seat as an independent. He initially aligned with the Praja Socialist Party before joining the Congress, where he had a nearly 50-year association. In 2017, he switched allegiance to the BJP. Last year, Krishna announced his retirement from active politics, citing his age.
Krishna served as the 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka from October 1999 to May 2004 and held the position of External Affairs Minister under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2009 to 2012. He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra and was the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1993. Additionally, Krishna was elected to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha several times between 1971 and 2014.
Krishna is credited with helping Bengaluru gain global recognition, particularly for boosting the IT sector, which contributed to the city's rise as India’s "Silicon Valley."
Several political leaders have expressed their condolences following his passing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Krishna as a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life, and recalled his many interactions with him. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge remembered Krishna as a true champion of development who made lasting contributions to both the state and the nation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed his sorrow, highlighting Krishna’s contributions to both Karnataka and India’s foreign policy.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised Krishna’s legacy of statesmanship and public service, noting his distinguished service as Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, deeply saddened by his death, paid tribute to Krishna's visionary leadership, particularly his role in transforming the state’s IT and biotechnology sectors.
Other leaders, including JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, and Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, also extended their condolences. Krishna’s influence on Karnataka’s growth and development, especially in the fields of governance and technology, will be remembered for years to come.
.jpeg)
