NEW DELHI: Former Karnataka chief minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna passed away at the age of 92 during the early hours of Tuesday morning in Bengaluru.
From being a law professor to the being elected as the chief minister of the southern state, Krishna had also served as the governor of Maharashtra.
Who was SM Krishna
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born on May 1, 1932. He completed his undergraduate studies at Maharaja’s College, Mysore, before earning a law degree from the Government Law College in Bangalore.
Additionally, he pursued further education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA, and later attended George Washington University.
Professor, politician, chief minister, governor
Krishna began his career as a professor of International Law at Renukacharya Law College in Bangalore. His political ascent began in 1962 when he was elected to the Karnataka legislative assembly, marking the start of a long and distinguished career.
In 1968, he entered national politics, making his debut in the fourth Lok Sabha, and was re-elected to the fifth Lok Sabha. However, in 1972, he chose to return to state politics, joining the Karnataka Legislative Council as a member and taking up the role of minister for commerce, industries, and parliamentary affairs, a position he held until 1977. His leadership qualities were further recognized in 1980 when he returned to the Lok Sabha, serving as minister of state for industry (1983-84) and minister of state for finance (1984-85).
Krishna’s political influence continued to grow, and in 1989, he became the Speaker of the Karnataka legislative assembly, a position he held until 1992.
The same year, he was appointed deputy chief minister of Karnataka. He further extended his reach when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1996, serving until October 1999.
Krishna’s most significant leadership role came when he was appointed chief minister of Karnataka, serving from October 1999 to May 2004. After his tenure as chief minister, he was sworn in as the governor of Maharashtra on December 6, 2004.
A man of global experience, Krishna was a member of the Indian delegation to the United Nations in 1982. He also represented India at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar in Westminster, U.K., in 1990, further cementing his stature on the world stage.
