Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth1 May 1932
Age92 Years
BirthplaceSomanahalli, Kingdom of Mysore, British India (now Karnataka, India)
ProfessionPolitician
NationalityIndian
Marital statusMarried
SpousePrema
FamilyTwo daughters: Malavika Krishna and Shambhavi Krishna
Net worthRs. 2,10,77,544
S. M. Krishna Biography
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was a veteran Indian politician whose public service spanned more than six decades. He held top posts at the state and federal
Early life and backgroundSomanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born on 1 May 1932 in Somanahalli in the former Kingdom of Mysore (now Karnataka). He completed a Bachelor of Arts at Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore, and a Bachelor of Law from Government Law College in Bangalore. On a Fulbright Scholarship he pursued further study at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he completed a Master of Corporate Law. He also attended Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Mysore during his school years.
Krishna’s life outside politics included teaching international law as a professor at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College of Law in Bengaluru. He maintained personal interests in lawn tennis, yoga and reading, and was known to take an active interest in men’s clothing design.
Career
Krishna entered electoral politics early. He contested a Mysore Legislative Assembly seat from the Maddur constituency as an independent in 1962 and later joined the Praja Socialist Party. He was elected to the 4th Lok Sabha from Mandya in a 1968 by-election as a PSP candidate and was re-elected to the 5th Lok Sabha in 1971 on an Indian National Congress ticket.
At the state level he served in a variety of ministerial roles in Karnataka, including responsibilities for commerce, industries and parliamentary affairs in the 1970s. He was a member of the Mysore (later Karnataka) Legislative Council from 1972 to 1977 and served as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1992 after winning the Maddur seat on a Congress ticket. In January 1992 he was appointed the state’s first Deputy Chief Minister, a position he held until December 1994.
Krishna’s tenure as Chief Minister of Karnataka lasted from 11 October 1999 to 20 May 2004. During his time in state office he pursued initiatives in urban infrastructure and public-private partnerships, including the Bangalore Agenda Task Force and projects such as the Hebbal Flyover. His administration moved forward digitization of land records through the Bhoomi initiative and implemented power-sector reforms involving the state’s electricity distribution companies. He also led unconventional responses to drought through cloud seeding programs and personally engaged with farmers affected by river water disputes, including a padayatra to reassure communities in the Kaveri basin.
At the national level Krishna held Union ministerial portfolios in the 1980s, including Minister of State for Industry and Minister of State for Finance. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in 1996 and later served as India’s Minister of External Affairs from 23 May 2009 until 28 October 2012. As foreign minister he undertook diplomatic travel to strengthen economic and energy ties, including a 2012 visit to Tajikistan.
He also served as the 18th Governor of Maharashtra from 12 December 2004 to 5 March 2008. After more than fifty years with the Congress party, Krishna resigned his primary membership on 28 January 2017 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 22 March 2017. He announced his retirement from politics on 7 January 2023.
Public profile
Krishna’s long career included roles as a parliamentary delegate and international representative: he was part of an Indian delegation to the United States in 1982 and attended a Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar at Westminster in 1990. He was also president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from February 1999 to June 2000.
His time in office was not without controversy; in 2011 allegations related to illicit mining during his tenure as chief minister led to legal attention, and in 2016 the Supreme Court stayed a probe for lack of sufficient evidence. Krishna was involved in high-profile crises during his career, notably managing the fallout from the abduction of Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar and the sensitive Kaveri water-sharing disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Personal life
Krishna married Prema, a social activist, on 29 April 1964. The couple had two daughters, Malavika Krishna and Shambhavi Krishna. Malavika is identified as a businesswoman. Krishna belonged to the Vokkaliga community. Physical details recorded in public profiles list his height at approximately 168 cm and hair described as salt and pepper.
Awards and later life
On 22 March 2023, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour. A collection of six books titled Krishna Patha was released in January 2020 to document his political journey; one volume, Smriti Vahini, grew out of recorded conversations conducted while he served as Governor of Maharashtra.
Latest updates
S. M. Krishna passed away on 10 December 2024 at his residence in Bengaluru. He was 92 years old. The reported cause of death was pneumonia and pulmonary congestion.
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Recent Work
Served as India’s Minister of External Affairs from 23 May 2009 to 28 October 2012; undertook diplomatic visits to strengthen energy and economic ties.
2009-2012Served as the 10th Chief Minister of Karnataka with a focus on urban infrastructure, digitization of land records and public-private partnerships.
1999-2004Career Highlights
- 10th Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999–2004)
- Minister of External Affairs of India (2009–2012)
- 18th Governor of Maharashtra (2004–2008)
- Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka (1992–1994)
- Member of Parliament - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1989–1992)
Net Worth
Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was S. M. Krishna born?
S. M. Krishna was born on 1 May 1932.
What is S. M. Krishna known for?
S. M. Krishna is known for politician.
What is S. M. Krishna’s marital status?
S. M. Krishna's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is S. M. Krishna married to?
S. M. Krishna is publicly listed as married to Prema.
What is S. M. Krishna’s net worth?
S. M. Krishna's net worth is commonly listed as Rs. 2,10,77,544, based on available public profile information.
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