Patnaik alleged that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman

Singh, during his election campaign in Odisha, had tried to "misguide" the people by giving false and fabricated information.

"Singh had suppressed the fact that his state is taking water of Mahanadi illegally and arbitrarily violating the basic norms of a federal set up with active partnership of the central government, which will seriously jeopardise the interest of the people of Odisha in future," he said adding, BJD's fight for Mahanadi was beyond political and electoral interest and it would continue.

Patnaik said issues like the Mahanadi dispute and the Polavaram project need to be raised in the Assembly.

"We should leave no stones unturned to counter the false, baseless and frivolous allegations of the Opposition on the floor of the House. As most of the Government of India schemes are now at 60 per cent to 40 per cent sharing basis, we have huge challenges ahead. But, we shall continue to focus on our priority areas and make adequate provision of funds for all the schemes that are important for the people of Odisha," Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister, however, refused to comment on the outcome of the Panchayat elections in public.

"It would not be appropriate for the Chief Minister to make a statement on the polls at this time. I will make my statement on 25th of this month after the results are declared officially," Patnaik told reporters outside the Assembly.

On the budget session, he said "It is an important session and we are open to all discussions with the Opposition in matters relating to the budget."

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)