Naveen Patnaik urges CM Majhi to act on Kotia village dispute
The Leader of Opposition expressed concern over Andhra Pradesh proceeding with local body elections in the disputed area on November 5.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has written a second letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi regarding the deteriorating situation in the Kotia group of villages. According to Pragativadi, Patnaik warned that tensions and confrontations between officials from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are increasing in the disputed area.
Patnaik expressed specific concern that Andhra Pradesh is conducting local body elections in Kotia on November 5, despite the impact on Odisha's territorial claims. He requested that the Chief Minister raise the issue with the Union Government and the Andhra Pradesh government at the highest level.
The Leader of Opposition noted that both states are governed by NDA parties led by the BJP. He called for immediate measures to safeguard Odisha's territorial integrity, citing promises made in the BJP's 2024 election manifesto.
The Kotia villages in the Pottangi area of Koraput district have been claimed by both states for decades. While Odisha has maintained the villages are part of the state since 1936, a Supreme Court status quo order has been in place since 2006.
The dispute intensified following Andhra Pradesh's notification for MPTC and ZPTC elections in parts of the area, leading Odisha to approach the Supreme Court with a contempt petition. Reports of barricades and police-level clashes at the border were noted on November 3.
The Koraput administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the 21 villages. In a previous reply on October 27, Chief Minister Majhi stated that the Kotia villages are an integral part of Odisha and invited legally sustainable suggestions to resolve the matter.