Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday asked why the state government had remained silent after Andhra Pradesh issued a notification for panchayat elections in three villages of Kotia gram panchayat in Koraput district.
Opposition raises questions on political ties and territorial claims
Patnaik wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing concern that the notification — covering Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri — undermined claims that those habitations are part of Odisha. He questioned whether the state BJP’s political dependence on its NDA ally in Andhra Pradesh had led to a muted response in Bhubaneswar.
"What happened to the BJP's assurances that Kotia belongs to Odisha? What makes this even more troubling is that the Telugu Desam Party, which governs Andhra Pradesh, is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre," Patnaik said in the letter, according to reports.
He also asked for details of the work of a 16-member high-level Kotia Committee constituted in 2025 and sought information on the recommendations made and actions taken to implement them.
Background: a long-running inter-state dispute
The dispute over Kotia dates back decades. Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claim rights over a majority of villages in Kotia gram panchayat. According to reports, the two states contest ownership of 21 of the 28 villages within the panchayat. The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court, with a fresh suit filed by Odisha in January 2022.
The development comes amid renewed public sensitivity in Odisha about territorial integrity. Patnaik recalled that during his tenure as Chief Minister he had actively sought to safeguard the state’s geographical borders, and he noted that BJP leaders had previously asserted that Kotia belonged to Odisha, even raising slogans demanding that Andhra Pradesh "go back" from the area.
State government's response and political signalling
State minister Suresh Pujari responded to the opposition’s charge, saying the BJP government was prepared to "thwart any provocative attempts" by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-ruled Andhra Pradesh, according to reports. The minister’s statement framed the issue as one the government was attentive to, though Patnaik and his party have demanded firmer, public action.
The exchange highlights a tension between political alliances at the Centre and local territorial assertions. Patnaik asked whether the prior assurances by BJP leaders — including promises made before the 2024 elections that a "double-engine" government would resolve the Kotia issue — had been abandoned.
Practical implications for residents and administration
For residents of the disputed villages, the notification for local body elections by a neighbouring state raises immediate practical concerns about voter lists, issuance of identity documents, delivery of welfare schemes and administrative jurisdiction. With the Supreme Court hearing and a separate suit filed by Odisha still pending, the legal status remains contested.
- Villages named in Andhra notification: Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar, Phatusineri
- Villages contested: Reportedly 21 out of 28 in Kotia gram panchayat
- Legal status: Matter pending before the Supreme Court; Odisha filed a fresh suit in January 2022
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gram panchayat | Kotia, Koraput district |
| Total villages | 28 |
| Villages claimed by both states | 21 |
| Villages in Andhra notification | Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar, Phatusineri |
| Committee | 16-member Kotia Committee (constituted 2025) |
The dispute also affects environmental and development considerations. Kotia and surrounding areas in Koraput are home to tribal communities whose access to forests, irrigation and local governance affects livelihoods. Administrative ambiguity can hinder delivery of social welfare schemes, forest rights processes and development works that depend on clear jurisdiction.
What stakeholders now seek
Patnaik has demanded a public account from the Chief Minister on steps taken to protect Odisha's territorial claims and an explanation of the implementation of the Kotia Committee's recommendations. Opposition leaders say the people of the border villages need assurance and administrative clarity; the state government says it will guard against provocative moves.
With the Supreme Court matter unresolved, the situation is likely to remain a political and legal flashpoint. Local residents and civil-society groups will be watching for concrete administrative directives from Odisha and for any fresh moves in the courts that could clarify jurisdiction and the delivery of public services.
Sunita Hota is a correspondent in Odisha reporting on state politics and community issues.
