Last week yet another session of the state legislature came to a close on a poignant note with deliberations on its usefulness to discuss and debate issues close to the general populace. Among the three sessions that the state legislature has during a year, the budget session offers six weeks to focus on the state’s financial health as the government plan for the new fiscal year came into effect on April 1.

What the media was dithering to say was voiced by none other than Speaker Dilip Walse Patil who, with some introspective and sharp remarks, referred to the casual approach of the MLAs towards the session. A lot of improvement was needed in the seriousness displayed by members in raising questions and of the ministers responding, said Patil, adding that he was not happy with the standard of legislative business in the last few sessions.