[12] Rising in politics, he became Member of K. R. Pet Taluk Board from 1978 to 1983, later becoming General Secretary of Janata Party for Mandya district in 1980 till 1985.
He was elected to Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1985 and became the Minister of Sericulture and Animal Husbandry in 1988 to remain in the post till 1989.
He was re-elected in 1994 from Krishnarajpete on Janata Dal ticket and resigned from the post after becoming the Member of Parliament from Mandya constituency.
He was picked as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after he became victorious as a Janata Dal (Secular) candidate in 2004 elections.
Then Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yediyurappa, his former H. D. Kumaraswamy and many others condoled the death of Krishna.