Mandya (Karnataka), December 11 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday paid their last respects to former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. The tribute took place at Krishna’s native place in Mandya.
In honor of his contributions, the Karnataka government has declared three days of mourning, from December 10 to December 12. An official notice confirmed that Krishna’s last rites would be conducted with full state honors, and no functions or celebrations will be held during the mourning period.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, describing SM Krishna as a “remarkable leader” who worked tirelessly for the betterment of others. He highlighted Krishna’s tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister, particularly his focus on infrastructure development, and praised him as a “prolific reader and thinker.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also mourned Krishna’s passing, calling it a great loss. He praised Krishna’s significant contributions to Karnataka, especially in advancing the IT and BT sectors. In his tribute on social media, Siddaramaiah said, “Karnataka will always remain indebted to him for his contributions during his tenure as Chief Minister.”
SM Krishna served as Karnataka’s Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004. He also held the position of External Affairs Minister under the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government from 2009 to 2012 and served as the Governor of Maharashtra. In 2017, he joined the BJP, ending a nearly 50-year association with the Congress. He retired from active politics in 2023.