Andhra polls in disputed Kotia villages reignite Odisha border row

Andhra Pradesh's rural poll notification for three disputed Kotia villages triggered a political confrontation in Odisha. The row has renewed focus on territorial claims, regional development and the pending Supreme Court case.Bhubaneswar,Oct 27, 2026 23:28 ISTAndhra Pradesh's notification to hold rural elections in three disputed villages dominated Odisha's political discourse on Tuesday, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking constructive suggestions from Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Majhi also accused the Biju Janata Dal chief of approaching the issue from a political standpoint. The dispute involves Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claiming 21 of the 28 villages in Kotia Gram Panchayat along their border.The matter is pending before the Supreme Court, where a fresh suit filed by Odisha in January 2022 remains under consideration. The issue resurfaced after Andhra Pradesh issued a notification to hold rural elections in three villages of the disputed region on November 3. Residents of these villages can vote in both states.Patnaik wrote to Majhi on October 19, asking whether the Bharatiya Janata Party's dependence on its National Democratic Alliance ally, the Telugu Desam Party, was the reason for the Odisha government's silence over the election notification. Responding on Tuesday, Majhi said the Kotia group of villages had been an integral part of Odisha since the state's formation in 1936. "The state government remains firmly committed to safeguarding the territorial integrity and legitimate interests of Odisha," he said, according to PTI.Majhi said Patnaik's letter appeared to approach the sensitive issue from a "political standpoint" instead of offering constructive and legally tenable solutions. "In view of the sensitivity of this long-standing inter-state matter, all concerned must act with restraint, responsibility and respect for the judicial process. I would appreciate receiving your constructive suggestions, if any, for resolution of this long-pending issue, for consideration of the government," Majhi said.He said the state government had prioritised the development of the Kotia region to promote inclusive growth, improve public services and enhance residents' well-being. He informed Patnaik that a committee of senior officials, headed by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, had been formed to oversee the integrated development of the Kotia Gram Panchayat areas.Pujari said the state government would take all steps to discourage Andhra Pradesh from holding rural elections in Odisha's territory. He also accused the previous BJD government of ignoring people in the region.BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo and former MP Pradeep Majhi, however, alleged that the BJP government remained silent until Patnaik wrote to the chief minister."The Andhra Pradesh government issued a notification on October 10 for holding rural polls in Kotia's three villages, and Patnaik wrote a letter to the CM on October 19. Then only, the state government realised the gravity of the situation," Pradeep Majhi said at a press conference."The chief minister then directed the advocate general to examine the status of the contempt of court case on October 21 and on October 23, the state filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court," he said, as quoted by PTI.The BJD leaders claimed that Andhra Pradesh had set up a polling booth inside Odisha's territory and created four gram panchayats in Kotia. "A polling booth for one panchayat has been established at Neridivalasa, while polling booths for the other three panchayats have been set up outside Odisha," they said.A BJD leader said the party would continue its campaign over Kotia. "All BJD MPs, MLAs, former MPs, former MLAs, chairpersons and party functionaries will visit Kotia and launch an agitation. It will not allow the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a polling booth there," the leader said.The Congress also sent a delegation to several villages in Kotia. It included state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka, Congress Legislature Party leader Ram Chandra Kadam and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati. The delegation demanded a special development package for the region under Article 371 of the Constitution.The dispute has again drawn political attention after Andhra Pradesh's election notification, with the Odisha government affirming its territorial claim, the BJD announcing an agitation and the Congress seeking a special development package, even as the matter remains before the Supreme Court.- Ends