Dehradun, Aug. 23 -- The two-day session of the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha in Bhararisain (Gairsain) stopped just short of being a farce. Were it not for the fact that a supplementary budget was passed as were nine bills crucial to the government's political agenda, the credibility of the legislature would have come under question. There are two aspects to the drama that unfolded - first, Gairsain's status as the 'Summer Capital', and the desperation of the main opposition party, Congress, following its successive defeats at every level of democratic representation.

Even before the session began, observers had noted that there is almost no enthusiasm among the legislators, be it of the BJP or Congress, for undertaking legislative business in...