New Delhi, Aug 11 - Silence is golden. That holds true for first time MPs, who mostly sat quietly and observed how the heavyweights conducted themselves in the 26-day budget session, as they mentally prepared for their turn during the winter sitting.

Cricketer-turned-politician Mohammed Azharuddin was among the many silent first-timers who spent more time observing the house transact its business than speaking. For him, this was net practice and the real game will begin in the winter session.

This was the story with most of the 300 first-time MPs in a house of 543 seats.

'It was a wonderful experience. It was a learning process. I learnt a lot about the functioning of the house. I hope I will be able to perform well in the winter session,' said Azharuddin, Congress MP from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

But he feels that mere participation in the house is no solution, but actual work is.

'I have not asked many questions, I can ask a lot of questions. How to solve the problem of the people in my constituency is my major concern.'

'But I don't think asking questions alone could solve the problems of the people,' Azharuddin told IANS.

A study conducted by PRS Legislative Research says the participation of first-timers and young MPs was below average and worse than their elders. The first-term MPs form a significant section of each party (59 percent on an average).

Actress-turned-MP Shatabdi Roy, 40, another first-time parliamentarian, says she is 'still scared' when it comes to the business of the house but wants to be an active part of it.

'I want to learn more. I want to actively participate in the proceedings of the house. I want to learn more about legislative business,' said the Trinamool Congress MP from Birbhum in West Bengal.

Roy finds the parliamentary performance of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and his deputy Sushma Swaraj exemplary.