S. M. Krishna
Encyclopedia
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna (born 1 May 1932), generally referred to as S. M. Krishna, is the Minister of External Affairs and a member of the Indian Parliament from Karnataka
in the Rajya Sabha
. He was the Chief Minister of Karnataka
from 1999 to 2004 and the Governor of Maharashtra
from 2004 to 2008.
District. He completed his Bachelor's in Arts from Maharaja's College, Mysore and obtained a Law degree from University Law College, which was then known as Government Law College in Bangalore
. Krishna studied in the United States, graduating from the Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, Texas and The George Washington University Law School
in Washington D.C, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. Soon after his return to India, he got elected to the Karnataka legislative assembly in 1962. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/sm-krishna-us-educated-experienced-politician_100195817.html.
He was married to Prema on 29 April 1964 and has two daughters.
from the Mandya
district of Karnataka starting from 1968 in the 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Lok Sabha. He served as minister under Indira Gandhi
between 1983–84 and Rajiv Gandhi
between 1984 and 85 as minister of state for industry and finance respectively. He was member of the Rajya Sabha in the years 1996 and 2006. He was member of the Karnataka legislative assembly and council at different times. Between 1989 and 1992 he was speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.
In 1999, as KPCC president, he led his party to victory in the assembly polls and took over as Chief Minister of Karnataka, a post he held till 2004. He was also instrumental in creating power reforms with ESCOMS. He encouraged private public participation and was a forebearer of the Bangalore Advance Task Force. He later became the Governor of Maharashtra.
Krishna resigned as Governor of Maharastra on 5 March 2008. It was reported that this was due to his intention to return to active politics in Karnataka. President Pratibha Patil
accepted his resignation on 6 March.
Krishna entered the Rajya Sabha
and subsequently took the oath of office as a Union Cabinet Minister of External Affairs in the Council of Ministers under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
on 22 May 2009.
He was criticised by Bharatiya Janata Party
for mistakenly reading the speech prepared for Portugese foreign minister during a meeting at United Nations
on 14 February 2011.
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
. He was the Chief Minister of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
from 1999 to 2004 and the Governor of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
from 2004 to 2008.
Biographical information
S.M. Krishna is the son of S.C. Mallaiah, Krishna born in a village Somanahalli in Maddur Taluk of MandyaMandya
Mandya is a city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of Mandya district and is located 40 km from Mysore and 100 km from Bangalore.-Etymology:...
District. He completed his Bachelor's in Arts from Maharaja's College, Mysore and obtained a Law degree from University Law College, which was then known as Government Law College in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. Krishna studied in the United States, graduating from the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas, Texas and The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
in Washington D.C, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. Soon after his return to India, he got elected to the Karnataka legislative assembly in 1962. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/sm-krishna-us-educated-experienced-politician_100195817.html.
He was married to Prema on 29 April 1964 and has two daughters.
Political biography
In addition, Krishna has served multiple terms as an MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from the Mandya
Mandya (Lok Sabha constituency)
Mandya Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka state in southern India. This constituency covers the entire Mandya district and part of Mysore district.-Assembly segments:...
district of Karnataka starting from 1968 in the 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Lok Sabha. He served as minister under Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
between 1983–84 and Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
between 1984 and 85 as minister of state for industry and finance respectively. He was member of the Rajya Sabha in the years 1996 and 2006. He was member of the Karnataka legislative assembly and council at different times. Between 1989 and 1992 he was speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.
In 1999, as KPCC president, he led his party to victory in the assembly polls and took over as Chief Minister of Karnataka, a post he held till 2004. He was also instrumental in creating power reforms with ESCOMS. He encouraged private public participation and was a forebearer of the Bangalore Advance Task Force. He later became the Governor of Maharashtra.
Krishna resigned as Governor of Maharastra on 5 March 2008. It was reported that this was due to his intention to return to active politics in Karnataka. President Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
accepted his resignation on 6 March.
Krishna entered the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
and subsequently took the oath of office as a Union Cabinet Minister of External Affairs in the Council of Ministers under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
on 22 May 2009.
He was criticised by Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
for mistakenly reading the speech prepared for Portugese foreign minister during a meeting at United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
on 14 February 2011.
Positions held
- Member of 3rd Karnataka Legislative Assembly 1962–67
- Member, Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Commonwealth
- Parliamentary Conference, New Zealand, 1965
- Member, 5th Lok Sabha5th Lok SabhaList of Members of the 5th Lok Sabha, elected February-March 1971. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.- Important members :* Speaker:...
1971–1976 - Member, 7th Lok Sabha7th Lok SabhaList of Members of the 7th Lok Sabha, elected December 1979-January 1980. The Lok Sabha is the lower house in the Parliament of India.- Important members :* Speaker:...
1980–1984 - Member, Karnataka Legislative CouncilKarnataka Legislative CouncilThe Karanatka Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of Karnataka state in southern India. Karnataka is one of the six states in India, where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising two houses: the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council...
1972–1977 - Minister for Commerce & Industries & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of KarnatakaGovernment of KarnatakaThe Government of Karnataka is a democratically elected body with the Governor as the constitutional head. The Governor who is appointed for a period of five years appoints the Chief Minister and his council of ministers...
1972–77 - Member, Indian Delegation to the United Nations, 1982
- Union Minister of State for Industry during 1983–1984
- Union Minister of State for Finance during 1984–1985
- Member, 9th Karnataka Legislative Assembly 1989–1992
- Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly 1989–93
- Delegate to Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar at West Minister, UK in March 1990
- Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, 1992–1994
- Elected to Rajya SabhaRajya SabhaThe Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in April 1996 - Chief Minister of Karnataka October 1999–2004
- Re-elected to Karnataka Legislative Assembly: 2004
- Governor, Maharastra: 2004–2008
- External Affairs Minister, Government of India: 22 May 2009 to date