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December 13, 2024
By Manjunath K. Shresthi
Politics and politicians are frowned upon by the majority of the people who elect them. But there are a few who stand out with their contributions to politics, nation building and the legacy they leave behind. A politician thinks of the next election, but a statesman, thinks of the next generation. It’s these very qualities that endeared the former late Chief Minister S. M. Krishna, who passed a few days back. May the tribe of such gentlemen politicians increase exponentially.
Post the liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG) of the economy post the 1991 reforms; the southern state of Karnataka lived up to global reputation and earned the IT Capital epithet. The state capital city, Bengaluru, became the information technology (IT) hub and it continues to make news even today. A strong foundation was laid by the former late CM and Bengaluru, and is ranked amongst the top cities in the country.
Lt. S. M. Krishna, after his debut in politics in the 1960s, held diverse posts, portfolios from the local, state and national politics in the Congress party and immersed himself in the responsibility he was given. He had the distinction of studying in a foreign land, and this would shape his political outlook ahead. He became the Chief Minister of the state in 1999-2004, and during his term, the state and Bengaluru made rapid progress.
He was member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in his long political career. During the UPA-1 government, he was made the Governor of Maharashtra from 2004-08, and he resigned from the post. Later he was made a Rajya Sabha member, and went on to become the Union External Affairs Minister in 2009, in Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s cabinet. He held the post for three years and resigned from it, indicating that he wanted to move to state politics. After an eventful political career, he quit the Congress party and joined the saffron party in 2017.
A soft-spoken late S.M. Krishna brought new work ethics in politics. He was one of the first fe politicians in the country who used to send and receive emails. He was fond of playing tennis, and was a power dresser, a globetrotter, and a person who brought certain class to politics. He was loved by all and the gentleman politician leaves behind a political void. The state and the country is poorer today, as she has lost her proud son.
