S M KRISHNA Architect of B'luru's IT-BT revolution

NT Bengaluru

SM Krishna, Karnataka Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004, is rightly remembered for his contribution to Bengaluru blossoming into an Information Technology (IT) and Bio-Technology (BT). This is how many political observers in Karnataka remember him in the backdrop of his death. He captured the CM’s seat in 1999 in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Janata Dal and the formation of the JD(S) and JD(U). Under his leadership as the Karnataka Congress Chief, Congress bagged 132 seats, winning a comfortable majority. Krishna served as CM for a full five-year term, a rare privilege in Karnataka politics. He was well-served by Bengaluru’s base as it had begun its industrialization journey with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

The city also witnessed the setting up of a Research and Development centre by Texas Instruments in 1984. Investments from IT giants like Intel and IBM followed. Domestic firms such as Infosys and Wipro quickly took the reins thereafter. However, none of that would have been possible if not for Krishna’s policies in the IT-BT sector. He established the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) in 1999 was another example. The BTAF roped in experts and industry leaders in various sectors who consulted on policy formation. He also set up the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) in 2002.

Population boom noticeable: The long-term results were astonishing as Bengaluru’s population ballooned from 50 lakh to about three times in a mere two decades. Today, Karnataka is responsible for more than 40 per cent of the country’s IT exports valued at $ 260 billion. The state also houses nearly all Fortune 500 companies and is home to upwards of 1,000 start-ups.

Such was his influence on protégés like current Deputy CM DK Shivakumar that he often puts him in the same league as three (fellow Vokkaliga) leaders: Kempegowda who founded Bengaluru, former CM Kengal Hanumanthaiah under whom the Vidhana Soudha was built and finally Krishna who made the city truly international. He is also credited with putting aside politics and finally giving the green light to the construction of the international airport at Devanahalli.

Drought, graft haunt Cong: However, not all was well under Krishna as CM as endemic corruption plagued the government machinery and the state suffered through a debilitating drought. Despite being born into Somanahalli village of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, his focus was mostly urban. This appears to have alienated the hinterland voters.