Does Parliament work? Indian democracy, often described as "chaotic", begs the question. A perspective helps. From five political parties in the first Lok Sabha, there are now 40 in the 13th House. The average life-span of four Lok Sabhas between 1989 and 1999 was 26.6 months and the interregnum yielded seven governments.

A comfortable numerical cushion and a divided Opposition helped the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government push through key laws in 2003 despite confrontations over issues like the "use" of CBI in the Ayodhya demolition case. The CVC Bill enhances public accountability though the infamous "single directive" protects bureaucrats. The era of Aya Rams-Gaya Rams and jumbo ministries is over. Open voting for the Rajya Sabha stymies moneybags. On the reforms front, a fiscal responsibility law curbs non-Plan expenditure and limits fiscal deficits, new legislation curbs the role of brokers in the management of stock exchanges and the Electricity Bill allows private producers to sell electricity.

63 Bills passed in 2003

41.12 % Attendance at Panel meetings

133 Days parliament worked

Statistical profiling of Lok Sabha members shows that while criminalisation of politics captures headlines, one-third of directly elected MPs are postgraduates. The three principal occupations of members are: political and social work, agriculture and legal practice. Finding space for historical figures remains a key preoccupation-13 new statues were sanctioned, including those of Shivaji and communist legend S.A. Dange. A new Rs 80-crore security plan includes 4,000 m of electric fencing around Parliament House. Average attendance of MPs at standing committee meetings is 41.12 per cent.

Legislation still hanging fire includes the Lok Ayukta, women's reservation and broadcast regulatory bills. Warts and all, representative politics has travelled a fair distance since the tentative beginnings provided by the Indian Councils Act of 1861.

The New Party Politics

Time was when a politician seen with a drink in his hand or partying at an extravagant social do would have to change his occupation. Not any more. The rich and the brash have arrived in Parliament and make no effort to be discreet. Liquor baron with vaulting political ambitions Vijay Mallya, cornered a Janata Dal ticket to the Rajya Sabha. Since then, his private aircraft is highly sought after by MPs seeking free rides. Mallya and the Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh are inveterate party staples. The polished BJD MP Jay Panda is active on the social scene, as is BJP's Sangeeta Singhdeo. Other movers include Congress MPs Rajiv Shukla and T. Subbirami Reddy. Among the younger set, Jyotiraditya Scindia is nattiness personified. Hema Malini's advent was clearly the glam event of the year.

GUEST COLUMN: ARUN SHOURIE

10 steps to 2004

some time around the middle of the year, the country's mood began to change. Today everyone talks about the "feel-good factor". The task for the coming year is to consolidate this, to build on it-for such moments, as Faiz would say, are evanescent, pal bhar ko amar, pal bhar mein dhuan (they can make a moment eternal, they can become smoke in a moment). What must we do to hold the sunbeam? First, we must steel ourselves against dips. We relapse into doom-and-gloom at the slightest setback. The cricket team loses a match-and the experts wring their hands. All sorts of theses are put out about national character. "We lack the killer instinct", "We are good as individual stars, but cannot play as a team" ... We win the next match. Has the national character changed that swiftly? So, ups and downs are in the scheme of things. We must not be buffeted by them. Second, an event is going to take place in the coming year the outcome of which will set the course for years to come, an event that will determine whether the present mood will be dissipated or will be built upon. That is the general election. A fractured result will again mortgage economic policy to fringe groups. The remedy lies entirely in the hands of the ordinary citizen.

Vote on development;

Vote for the party and the candidates who have the conviction, the competence and the integrity-three distinct things, each indispensable-to carry through reforms, take tough decisions.

Give that party a decisive majority. The third thing flows from another feature we can observe all around us. You would have noticed that those who are doing something for others, especially for those who cannot do anything for them in return, seldom feel helpless. Those who are doing nothing, have frustration writ on their brows. So, to blow away the fog of helplessness, we should each find something we can do unaided, by ourselves.

Grow 10 herbs that can cure common ailments.

As in Thailand, at a fixed time-say, 8.30 p.m.-look around your house; switch off the lights that you do not really need.

Equip your house for water harvesting.

Buy and use the solar cooker you have been reading about.

Finance the education of a poor child.

Next Diwali, do what the President counselled: "Each of us who can light a lamp for Diwali is a fortunate person; find a family that cannot light a lamp; visit their home, and light a lamp."

Why not make the Thai slogan our own? "Those who smile thrice a day will please make it six times."

Add to this list, and follow V. M. Tarkunde's rule: "He who gives a good idea is the one who has to implement it."

The author is Union minister for disinvestment and infotech.

MAYAWATI

Hit wicket

It is the biggest mystery of 2003: why did Mayawati break up with the BJP? One may never know the answer but the fallout of her move is public knowledge. Her bete noire Mulayam Singh is now the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Being out of office has not helped keep the CBI probe into the Taj Corridor at bay. The BJP is furious at being ditched. To top this, Mayawati's efforts to spite the BJP in the December polls failed spectacularly. The lady's options are not clear, but political isolation is writ large. A split in the BSP parliamentary group could complete the party. A case of bad judgement.

BAD NEWS: Sonia Gandhi

An Empty Hand

When the monsoon session of Parliament ended, she was believed to have arrived. Congress President Sonia Gandhi's no-confidence motion speech got favourable media comment. That was August. Three short months and bruising defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan later, the party looked woefully out of touch with the electorate. Sensing trouble, her confidants triggered an avalanche of resignations. But the tired response failed to hide the rot within. Harold Wilson famously said that a week is a long time in politics. Sonia is just finding out.