End of a 'dignified era' in Karnataka politics: Former CM SM Krishna no more

PTI Bengaluru: Ex-Karnataka Chief Minister and former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna died here early on Tuesday, leaving behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service that saw the 92 year-old leader scale heights of political achievements. Suave, sophisticated and a man with enviable academic credentials, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna started off his political innings as an independent MLA from Maddur in 1962, stunning a then Congress veteran in the elections. In his later years, he went on to become the state's CM and also the country's External Affairs Minister.

Tributes poured in for the former Maharashtra Governor, who breathed his last at 2.45 am on Tuesday. Krishna had been ailing for quite some time. The state mourning is from December 10 to 12, an official notification said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress president Mallijkarjun Kharge and other leaders paid rich tributes to Krishna. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Krishna has left behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service. The Karnataka Assembly, which is in session in Belagavi, paid tributes to Krishna. Leaders cutting across party lines described him as a "gentleman politician" and "statesman", and lauded his contribution in making Bengaluru an IT hub. Not many politicians may have held positions as Krishna SMK to his friends and the inner circle did in his political career spanning over five decades. Krishna played his part with aplomb as the chief minister in promoting the tech sector in Karnataka and building "Brand Bengaluru". "He played a proactive role in putting Bengaluru on the global map," a senior IT industry executive said.

"He gave a boost to the IT sector during his tenure as the chief minister resulting in Bengaluru growing as an alternative to Silicon Valley in California and generating jobs for youths," he added. Born in Somanahalli in Karnataka's Mandya district on May 1, 1932, Krishna kicked off his electoral foray in style winning as idependent from Maddur against Congress stalwart K V Shankar Gowda in the 1962 assembly polls. He later associated himself with the Praja Socialist Party before joining the Congress. A graduate of Maharaja's College, Mysuru, he obtained a law degree from the Government Law College here. Further, he studied at Southern Methodist University, Dallas in the US and later at George Washington University, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

Govt declares 3-day mourning, holiday for schools today

The Karnataka government announced state mourning for three days, and declared holiday on December 11 as a mark of respect to veteran politician and former Chief Minister S M Krishna, who died here on Tuesday. His last rites will be performed with full state honours at Somanahalli in Mandya district on Wednesday. The government declared a holiday to all government offices and schools and colleges on Wednesday, in honour of the departed. The national flag will be flown at half mast in all government buildings.

Krishna, the tennis buff

A tennis enthusiast who played competitive tennis during his college days, Krishna served as president of the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association from 1999 to 2020. This period changed the face of the sport in Karnataka, KSLTA said. Under his leadership, KSLTA was able to take international tennis to other districts, starting with Gulbarga in 2002. It moved on to Tumkur, Davanagere, Chikkamagalur, Dharwad, etc.