Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, also known as SM Krishna, who played an instrumental role in building the 'Silicone Valley' brand for Bengaluru, breathed his last on Tuesday at the age of 92. He served as the chief minister of Karnataka between 1999 and 2004.
In 2023, in recognition of his illustrious political career spanning over six decades, SM Krishna was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor. His political journey started soon after his return from the United States in 1962.
SM Krishna is well-known for his time as Karnataka CM. Under Krishna's stewardship, Bengaluru's IT sector received a boost, which especially boomed the tech and biotech industry, helping the city to get the recognition of a global technology hub.
SM Krishna’s Role in Transforming Bengaluru
The SM Krishna government's decision to introduce labour reforms, streamline investment processes, and create a favorable environment for IT businesses transformed Bengaluru.
As chief minister, Krishna constituted the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF), in which Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani also played a key role. It was a public-private partnership (PPP), that brought together experts from various sectors to enhance government performance and address citizen concerns.
Policies enabling 24/7 operations and night shifts for women significantly contributed to the industry's growth under his leadership. SM Krishna also championed e-governance, considering it essential for driving industrial reforms in the state.
During his tenure, tech companies like Amazon, IBM, and Intel also entered the city while local firms like Wipro and Infosys also kept growing. It overall created a favourable environment for international companies while supporting homegrown start-ups.
Karnataka now contributes over 40 per cent of India’s total IT exports, valued at approximately $260 billion. The state is home to operations of nearly all Fortune 500 companies and a thriving ecosystem of over 1,000 startups.
When Krishna took charge, most of the IT companies were based in Hyderabad as its CM Chandrababu Naidu had projected himself as a tech-savvy politician. Understanding the importance IT companies to boost growth, Krishna proactively would reach out to these companies to choose his state over Naidu's.
"Our friendship transcended the competitive spirit we shared in attracting investments to our respective states. He was a true leader who always prioritized the welfare of his people," Naidu posted on X offering condolences to Krishna.
After his tenure as CM, Krishna served as a Maharashtra governor from December 6, 2004, to March 8, 2008. Later, he became the minister of external affairs between June 2009 and October 2012.
