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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}

'''S. Krishna Kumar''' (born 6 September 1939, Kowdiar, [[Trivandrum district]], Kerala) is a bureaucrat turned Indian politician from [[Kerala]]. He was also a technologist, technocrat, trade unionist, political and social worker, sportsman, Engineer and [[Civil Servant]] (Indian Administrative Service). He was a former leader of [[Indian National Congress]] in [[Kerala]] and joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] on 20 April 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2019-04-20|title=Former Union minister S Krishna Kumar from Kerala leaves Cong to join BJP|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ex-union-minister-from-kerala-joins-bjp-119042000462_1.html|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> He has been elected to the Lok Sabha three times during 80s and 90s, and was also a minister in the [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry]] and [[Rao ministry]]. He served as a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] representing [[Quilon (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. He was elected to 8th, 9th and [[10th Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3064.htm |title=Members Bioprofile -|access-date= 27 December 2017 }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He was born in [[Kowdiar]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram district]](Kerala) on 6 September 1939 as son of C.P.Shankara Pillai. He got married on June 1970 to Smt. Usha Krishna Kumar, who later became the general secretary of [[All India Mahila Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3064.htm |title=Members Bioprofile -|access-date= 27 December 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skrishnakumar.com/Biography.html |title=Personal Website -|access-date= 11 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/ex-union-minister-from-kerala-s-krishna-kumar-joins-bjp/articleshow/68967444.cms?from=mdr |title=Personal Website -|access-date= 11 August 2018 }}</ref> He has two children one son and a daughter. His daughter has married to the family of [[Khushwant Singh]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=M.K|first=Nidheesh|date=2019-07-23|title=Boris Johnson's close encounter with a Kerala elephant|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/the-kerala-connection-to-boris-johnson-1563893681370.html|access-date=2021-04-09|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> He is currently settled in [[Delhi]].

== Career ==
He completed graduation in [[Mechanical engineering]] from [[University of Kerala]] with gold medal in the year 1960.

=== Bureaucrat ===
He cleared the [[Indian Civil Service]] exam and joined the [[Indian Administrative Service]] in the year 1963. While in service he served as [[District magistrate]] of [[Ernakulam district]] from 1969 - 1973. During this period he spearheaded [[family planning]] and [[Land reform in Kerala|land reforms]] projects in the district. This efforts helped Kerala reduce population growth and ensure fair redistribution of land.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=S. Krishna|date=2014-12-20|title=Learning from the Ernakulam experiment|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-learning-from-the-ernakulam-experiment/article6708748.ece|access-date=2021-04-08|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He is also regarded as the architect of 'modern [[Kochi]]' because of efforts to develop city into a modern city through institutions such as Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA)and also he was founding chairman of GCDA from 1976-1980.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jun 22|first1=PTI /|last2=2002|last3=Ist|first3=23:52|title=Need to boost Cochin Authority stressed {{!}} Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/need-to-boost-cochin-authority-stressed/articleshow/13791288.cms|access-date=2021-04-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He has also served in the capacities of Civil Supplies Commissioner, Industries Commissioner, Principal Secretary (Industries, Local Administration, Urban Development, Fisheries & Social welfare) in [[Government of Kerala]].

=== Politics ===
He quit [[Indian Administrative Service]] and entered politics in 1980 through [[Indian National Congress]] and [[K. Karunakaran]] as his mentor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=K Karunakaran, the Kingmaker|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2010/dec/24/k-karunakaran-the-kingmaker-213645.html|access-date=2021-04-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> He expected a seat in [[1982 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]] but that didn't came through. However he was appointed as the chairman of [[HLL Lifecare]], a central [[Public sector undertakings in India|Public sector undertaking.]] It was a loss making entity and was transformed into a leading [[Condom]] and medical accessories manufacturer in Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thiruvananthapuram|first=R. KRISHNAKUMAR in|title=Questions of quality|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/economy/article30161169.ece|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref> Then he moved to [[Kollam]] and started becoming active in [[Trade union]] activities of [[Cashew business in Kollam|Cashew industry in Kollam]]. In 1984 [[CAPEX (cooperative)|CAPEX]] the only [[cooperative]] in cashew sector was started in his leadership. Soon he got elected into [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency)]] in the [[8th Lok Sabha|8th]], [[9th Lok Sabha|9th]] and [[10th Lok Sabha]].

He was a [[Union Council of Ministers|Union Minister]] handling Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Textiles, Information and Broadcasting from 1984 - 1989 in [[Rajiv Gandhi ministry]] and Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Defence, Non Conventional Energy and Agriculture in [[Rao ministry]] from 1991-1996.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=January 31|first1=Sreedhar Pillai|last2=January 31|first2=1989 ISSUE DATE|last3=October 17|first3=1989UPDATED|last4=Ist|first4=2013 17:34|title=Krishna Kumar emerges as most powerful MP from Kerala in Delhi|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19890131-krishna-kumar-emerges-as-most-powerful-mp-from-kerala-in-delhi-815705-1989-01-31|access-date=2021-04-08|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> He worked for universalisation of [[Television]] in India and established microwave link across [[Kerala]] in record time.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=July 15|first1=Prabhu Chawla|last2=July 15|first2=1989 ISSUE DATE|last3=October 30|first3=1989UPDATED|last4=Ist|first4=2013 16:04|title=Doordarshan and AIR become electoral weapons of Congress(I)|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19890715-doordarshan-and-air-become-electoral-weapons-of-congressi-816282-1989-07-15|access-date=2021-04-08|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

In 1990's there were a series of allegations were raised against Krishna Kumar, including amassing of wealth disproportionate to the known sources of income and benami real estate deals. His wife Usha Krishnakumar was arrested for violation of the [[Foreign Exchange Regulation Act]] and was sent to [[Tihar Jail]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=BSCAL|date=1997-03-19|title=Usha Krishnakumar Remanded|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/usha-krishnakumar-remanded-197031901147_1.html|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> In elections to the [[11th Lok Sabha]] of 1996, Krishna Kumar lost to [[N. K. Premachandran]]. Nina Pillai, wife of biscuit tycoon [[Rajan Pillai]] also contested this elections as a BJP-supported candidate against Krishna Kumar.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=May 15|first1=M. G. Radhakrishnan|last2=May 15|first2=1996 ISSUE DATE|last3=May 15|first3=1996UPDATED|last4=Ist|first4=1996 00:00|title=Crusading to Avenge|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960515-crusading-to-avenge-753373-1996-05-15|access-date=2021-04-09|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Stalwarts Who Faded Away|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/mar/22/The-Stalwarts-Who-Faded-Away-589297.html|access-date=2021-04-08|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Following this he distanced himself from electoral politics and took on the role of an education and industrial consultant. There are many analysts who believe that, machinations against [[K. Karunakaran]] within [[Indian National Congress]] both at national level and state level due to differences he had with [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|Rao]] and [[A. K. Antony|Antony]] along with the downfall of [[K. Karunakaran|Karunakaran's]] clout both at [[Kerala]] and [[Delhi]] following the [[Nambi Narayanan|ISRO Spy case]] have seriously impacted the political career of [[K. Karunakaran|Karunakaran]] loyalists like Krishnakumar.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kidwai|first=Rasheed|date=2016-06-29|title=What tore PV Narasimha Rao, Sonia Gandhi apart|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/what-tore-pv-narasimha-rao-sonia-gandhi-apart-371453|access-date=2021-04-27|website=ABP Live|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kochukudy|first=Anand|title=How the ISRO espionage scandal brought a CM down|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/09/17/isro-espionage-scandal-downfall-karunakaran|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Newslaundry}}</ref>

In 2003, he left [[Indian National Congress]] due to differences with [[K. Karunakaran]] and joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He contested in BJP ticket from [[Mavelikara (Lok Sabha constituency)]] for the [[2004 Indian general election]]. However, in 2006 he joined back in the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Krishnakumar returns to Congress - india News - Webindia123.com|url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/new/archives/ar_showdetails.asp?id=602140688&cat=india&n_date=2006|access-date=2021-04-09|website=news.webindia123.com}}</ref> He was active in poll campaigns of 2014 elections for [[Indian National Congress]].

In 2014, he did a doctorate in Public policy from [[Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani]].

In 2019 at his age of 80, he again left Congress and joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-20|title=Ex-Union minister S Krishna Kumar from Kerala joins BJP|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ex-union-minister-s-krishna-kumar-from-kerala-joins-bjp-729763.html|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krishna Kumar S.}}
[[Category:10th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram district]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:8th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Kollam district]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]

S. Krishna Kumar - Revision history

>TrangaBellam: WP:DE