S M Krishna, former Karnataka CM who put Brand Bengaluru on global map, passes away at 92

“Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri S.M. Krishna, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, whose legacy of leadership and public service has left an indelible mark on our state and nation. His vision and dedication shaped Karnataka’s progress and his corporate approach towards governance for Bengaluru endeared him to many,” Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge posted on X.

“We are still reaping the benefits of his vision of positioning Bengaluru as a global city. As we remember him, we not only grieve the loss of a towering figure in our politics, but also celebrate a life well-lived in service to the people. May his soul rest in peace and his contributions continue to inspire generations to come,” Priyank Kharge added.

SM Krishna was the chief minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and the governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008.

Krishna cut ties with the Congress and joined the BJP in 2017 but kept a low political profile.

He also served as external affairs minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012.

He joined the BJP in March 2017, ending his nearly 50-year-long association with the Congress. He retired from active politics last year, news agency ANI reported.

He received the Padma Vibhushan at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2023 for his contribution to the field of public affairs.

“My parents will be pleased and happy for that the honourable Prime Minister and Home Minister have thought it fit to confer this prestigious distinction on me. I’m grateful to the government of India and I’m also grateful to the people of Karnataka,” Krishna was quoted as saying after receiving the award.

A law graduate, he studied in the United States, graduating from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC, where he was a Fulbright Scholar, according to an agency report.

He was a member of the Karnataka assembly and council and served as deputy chief minister (1993 to 1994) and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president ahead of the 1999 assembly polls, in which the party won and became the chief minister. Krishna is credited by many for putting Bengaluru on the global map, as a fillip given to the IT sector during his tenure has resulted in the city growing as ‘India’s Silicon Valley’, a PTI report said.