New Delhi, Dec 20: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die today after a smooth 23-day winter session which saw 35 important bills, including those on financial sector reforms, electoral reforms, north-east development, bio-diversity and SC and ST welfare, passed. The session, the first under the chairmanship of vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, also saw purposeful debates on five calling attention motions and 130 special mentions.
Some of the important issues discussed included the drought situation in various parts of the country, political developments in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, disinvestment of public sector undertakings, mid-year review of the economy and the developments in West Asia.
Shekhawat, whose handling of the house won praise from all members, said their cooperation was much beyond expectation. Stating that he was ''diffident'' at the beginning of the session, Shekhawat said many people had told him he would find it difficult to run the house.
''But on the strength of your cooperation, support and goodwill, I have had no difficulty whatsoever. The credit for whatever success we have been able to achieve towards making our functioning more effective and productive, is entirely yours,'' he added.

He also noted that the average number of questions taken up every day and the legislative business increased during the session.
Leader of the house Jaswant Singh, in his valedictory remarks, said the success under the chairmanship of Shekhawat was unprecedented. In an oblique reference to the opposition not forcing any adjournment motions this time, Jaswant Singh quipped that this was a result of ''Sumati'' (good sense).
Leader of the Opposition Manmohan Singh also paid rich tributes to Shekhawat. He said the opposition had played a constructive role during the session.
Touching upon some important issues facing the country, Singh urged the government to take a fresh look at tackling calamities.
Expressing concern at the ''uncertain fate'' of Saarc, singh said the future did not lie in confrontation. He also called for the setting up of a high-powered ministerial group on Kashmir.
Deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah hoped that the women's reservation bill, which was lying in cold storage ''for a century'', would see the light of the day in the budget session.
At the very least, the Lok Sabha, where the bill is pending, should discuss the bill in the next session so that the battlelines would be clearly drawn and the women of the country knew who were standing up in their support.
''Doodh Ka Doodh Aur Paani Ka Paani Ho Jayega'' (the water will be separated from the milk'', she added.
As several Congress members stood up in support of her observation, Manmohan Singh said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had already pledged the party's support to reserving one-third of legislative seats for women.
''I urge the government to bring the bill in the next session. The Congress party will support it,'' he added.
Before the house adjourned, a number of private members' bills were introduced.
Bureau Report