Naveen Patnaik questions Odisha govt’s ‘silence’ on Andhra poll notification for disputed Kotia villages

Former Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik is protesting. File | Photo credit: ANI

BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday (October 19, 2026) demanded to know if BJP’s “dependency” on NDA ally TDP was the reason for the state government’s “silence” on Andhra Pradesh issuing notices for panchayat elections in three Kotia villages in Koraput district.

The decades-old dispute involves both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claiming their rights to 21 of the 28 Kotia Gram Panchayat villages. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court, with a new suit filed by Odisha in January 2022 still pending.

Facing the opposition’s accusations of “double standards” and violating Odisha’s territorial integrity and pride, state minister Suresh Pujari said the BJP government is ready to “thwart any provocative attempts” by TDP-ruled Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Patnaik, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, has sent a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressing concern over Andhra Pradesh’s notification announcing polling in Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri villagers of Kotia gram panchayat.

“What happened to the BJP’s assurance that Kotia belongs to Odisha? What makes it even more worrisome is that the Telugu Desam Party, which rules Andhra Pradesh, is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre,” the former chief minister said.

He asked if “political dependency is the reason behind the BJP government’s silence in Odisha and its willingness to compromise on state interests and territorial integrity?”

“What were the recommendations of the 16-member high-level Kotia Committee formed in 2025? What measures were taken to implement them?” Mr. Patnaik asked the question and pointed out that as Chief Minister he had all along fought to protect the territorial integrity of Odisha.

He reminded the Chief Minister that BJP leaders in Odisha had repeatedly claimed that Kotia belonged to the state and raised the slogan “Go Back Andhra”.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, the BJP also promised a “twin-engine” government to resolve the Kotia issue once and for all, protect Odisha’s territorial integrity and restore Odia’s pride, Mr. Patnaik said in a letter to the chief minister.

“What happened to those promises? Despite Odisha having a so-called two-engine government, it is deeply disturbing that Andhra Pradesh has proceeded to call elections in Kotia,” he said in the letter.

“Will the twin-engine government stand firm in protecting Odisha’s territorial integrity and constitutional rights, or will it once again bow to pressure from the Centre?” he said and said that the people of Odisha deserve clear answers and accountability.

Meanwhile, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Sunday (October 18) that the government was fully prepared to “thwart any provocative attempts by the neighboring state”.

“Kotia gram panchayat is an integral part of Odisha and its people are with the state,” he said, adding that the revenue commissioner of the southern division has been asked to take stock of the situation and remain vigilant.

Koraput District Collector took stock of the situation and the two officers have been asked to ensure that Kotia does not become part of the Andhra Pradesh election process, the minister said.

Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, who is also an MLA from Koraput district, demanded immediate action from the state government. “The Odisha BJP government’s double standards on Kotia have allowed Andhra Pradesh to stake its claim on the region,” he said.

The dispute over the cluster of Kotia villages reached the Supreme Court in 1968, which ordered both states to maintain the status quo. In 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that such interstate border disputes are best resolved by Parliament under Article 131 of the Constitution.

The new original suit filed by Odisha remains under consideration by the apex court from January 2022.

Published – 19 October 2026 22:58 IST