Three Congress members were suspended for the entire season, while the rest of the party members and a RJP MLA for three days on February 24 last, for agitating after raising the issue of ``irregularities and malpractices'' in the purchase of vehicles of the Health Department.

With no solution in sight, the Opposition members -- 53 Congress MLAs, four Janata Dal, four Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) and two Independents -- stayed away from the proceedings of the House, even as the three days' suspension period of the members was completed today.

Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel was in the House as all the ruling BJP members participated in the Question Hour.

The Gujarat Legislative Assembly today also passed three official bills in the absence of the Opposition members.

Thebill to amend the laws relating to statutory bodies and to validate termination of the tenure of curtain offices of such bodies, which was moved by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, was adopted by the House without any opposition.

Moving the bill, Vala said that the provision was also made to the effect that the chairman, vice chairman and directors, or members of statutory bodies, who were appointed before the commencement of this Act and continued as such, shall hold their office during the pleasure of the State Government.

The House also adopted two other official bills moved by Urban Development Minister Kaushik Patel called the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Amendment Act, 1999, and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1999.