The House began with the tabling of several reports of the Standing Committees of the Parliament. In fact so preoccupied were Members of Parliament with the fluid political situation that there was a complete lack of interest in what is considered the most important financial business transacted in a year.

The disinterested ``ayes'' reverberating in the House led the former Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj to quip, ``Speaker sir, since the House is in such a magnanimous mood, we should get the Women's Reservation Bill passed as well.''

Theindustry can now heave a sigh of relief that the Finance Bill has been passed, much before the deadline of May 15, after yesterday's hiccups. Yesterday, despite having assured the President that all political parties would cooperate and pass the Budget, some BJP and TDP members had shouted in the Parliament alleging horsetrading being resorted to by the Congress to garner support for its own party, that the Speaker was forced to adjourn the Lok Sabha thrice yesterday.