It takes four to reach five. To reach five one has to complete four. That is the success story of Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna, who completes four years in office on today (October 11) and walking in style into the fifth and final year.

Looking back at four years that rolled down since 1999 it was not a bed of roses for Krishna. The formidable CM acclaimed as a No 1 CM of the country had it all. His tenure was marked by bouquets and brick-bats as his government faced seemingly unsurmountable challenges.

To begin with it was the kidnap of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar by poacher Veerappan in the year 2000. That episode shook socio-political nerves of Karnataka.

Rajkumar’s release was secured successfully and Krishna was a much relieved person. However the questions related to Kidnap and release remained a mystery even today. But, Krishna went on.

While the kidnap drama was still fresh in the memory and the government setting time frames to end the elusive run of dreaded Veerappan, the out-law challenged the mighty government by kidnapping former Minister H. Nagappa, whom he killed later in the wild. That killing dented the image of Krishna government as the kidnap episode met with a gory end unlike the Dr Rajkumar’s happy ending.

However, there were too many other things waiting in the wings to disturb Krishna and his government. This time it was nature, which has been hostile to this region for three or more years. The perpetual drought situation led to severe shortage of drinking water and loss in food grain production.

This triggered major social problems as several farmers surrendered to suicide. The farmers might have been prompted to end their lives for various other reasons, but for the ill luck of Krishna they all got the label of 'Suicides due to crop failures and debts'.

Meanwhile, Krishna was battered by legal battles on the Cauvery River water sharing with Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister had to climb down from the defiant stand of not releasing water by opening the crest gates of Krishnaraja Sagara and Kabini reservoirs to release water under the hammer of Supreme Court.

The political games he had made through his confidence building Padayatra in the Cauvery heart land of Mandya district were virtually drowned in the water that flowed into Tamil Nadu.

Unfazed by these reverses which he suffered for no fault of his, Krishna swung into damage control exercises by unveiling packages after packages for farmers of Mandya and the state. He announced Rs 880 crore special package to appease the farming community as an attempt to check suicides.

But the suicide syndrome went unabated in Karnataka. Krishna was compelled to resort to other options. In an another move to win the confidence of poor he launched a massive mid-day meal scheme benefiting 50 lakh school going children.

While the Central government provided food grains, online lottery runners channelised funds to keep the oven burning.

Utilisation of online lottery money generated hot flames by Opposition and the public against the government forcing Krishna to declare rethinking, including a ban on online lotteries. But, this assurance has to wait till March next till he presents his fifth and final Budget of his term.

All said and done, Krishna has been handling all these crises with his political acumen and vast political experience.

Krishna has many advantages in his kitty. An Opposition camp that is torn-apart is never a threat to him. To cap it all, there was an utter political calm in his own Congress party with no dissenting voice making any sound whatsoever. Thanks to his dextrous handling of party and government, for, once again he made it look trouble free.

The rebellion-free atmosphere in Karnataka congress camps could be attributed to the fear among leaders that the high command may deal such elements with an iron-hand or the electorate who had taught lessons to the previous Janata Dal for their daily quarrelling attitudes.

With Opposition camps still remain divided, Krishna is bracing himself for a second innings and hopes for a repeat of his 1999 Panchajanya yatra in 2004 also. He is setting a stage for returning the Congress to power with elections away by a year.

Krishna has been engaged himself chalking out a plethora of administrative and political strategies, to step into the shoes of his Madhya Pradesh counter part Digvijay Singh who had a two five year term as Chief Minister of MP.

The other day Krishna had said "Let people assess us". He, with his collegues in the Cabinet embarked on an exercise to go to the people. "Janaspandana" (Interaction with people) as it is called is aimed at getting feedback from the people as well as take their grievences in writing. Janaspandana was kicked of on October 8 in a Volvo bus covering nine districts in Central and Nrth Karnataka.

A bus journey by Krishna and his ministerial colleagues reminisces one about the Panchajanya yatra, as also reminding people that elections are approaching.

The Opposition has termed Janaspandana, billed as peoples contact programme, as nothing but an election campaign of Congress. “This bus yatra is a political stunt and an election gimmick”, assert the Opposition. Be that as it may, Krishna ‘s yatra is on.

In the meanwhile, Congress in Karnataka is keenly watching the outcome of elections in four major states in northern India where the party is in the seat of power.

The out come of November elections in Rajastan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi is worth watching as it could have an impact on the Karnataka Assembly elections due in 2004.