S. M. Krishna

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna (1 May 1932 – 10 December 2024) was an Indian politician. He was Minister of External Affairs of India from 2009 to October 2012. He was a member of the Indian Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Krishna was the 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and the 19th  Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008.

Krishna died from a long illness at his home in Bengaluru, India on 10 December 2024, at the age of 92.

Early Life and Education
Krishna was born in Somanahalli village in the Mandya district of Karnataka, India. He studied at Mysore University and later went to the United States to study law at George Washington University. His education helped him gain knowledge about law, government and international affairs.

Political Career in Karnataka
Krishna started his political journey with the Indian National Congress party. He served as an MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) in Karnataka several times.

He became the 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004. During his time as CM, he worked to make Bengaluru a global IT hub. He focused on urban development, infrastructure and attracting foreign investment. His leadership was known for being modern and technology-friendly.

Governor of Maharashtra
After serving in Karnataka, Krishna was appointed the 19th Governor of Maharashtra. He held this position from 2004 to 2008. As Governor, he stayed neutral in state politics and performed duties as a representative of the President of India.
Minister of External Affairs
In 2009, he became the Minister of External Affairs of India, a top position in the national government. He served until October 2012. During this time, he represented India in many international meetings and built strong ties with countries around the world.

References

Category:1932 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:Governors of Maharashtra
Category:Members of the Rajya Sabha