Dharmendra Pradhan called for dialogue to resolve the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh dispute over Kotia. His appeal came amid legal preparations and an escalating BJP-BJD political row.
Stock photo used for illustration
Bhubaneswar,Oct 21, 2026 22:46 IST
Former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday called for dialogue and a cordial atmosphere to resolve the decades-old territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Kotia villages, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
His remarks came amid a political row between the ruling BJP and the opposition BJD in Odisha over Andhra Pradesh holding rural elections in the disputed villages. Both states claim territorial rights over the villages, and the matter is before the Supreme Court.
The Kotia villages are located in the Eastern Ghats along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. The dispute often resurfaces during elections, and residents of these villages have voting rights in both states.
In a post on X, Pradhan said, "We all know how important Kotia is for Odisha and the Odia people. Kotia is the identity of Odisha's sovereignty and indivisibility. The long-standing border dispute over Kotia is certainly a matter of concern for Odias. Regardless of party affiliations, there is a need to come together for Odisha's interests and find a collective solution."
The BJP MP said politicians must take responsibility for resolving the region's problems. "Through dialogue, we must create a friendly atmosphere and pave the way for a solution," he said, adding that the sacrifices and contributions of those who protected Odisha's geographical boundaries would not go in vain.
"Our fight for Odia identity will continue. Protecting Odisha's unity and indivisibility is our collective responsibility," Pradhan said.
The issue returned to focus two days earlier when BJD president Naveen Patnaik wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, asking what measures the state's BJP government had taken to resolve the dispute. Patnaik also asked whether the state government was silent because the NDA government at the Centre depended on the support of the TDP, which is in power in Andhra Pradesh.
The Odisha government responded by asking what the BJD government had done to resolve the issue during its 24 years in power in the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari directly blamed Patnaik for the dispute.
Of the 28 villages under Kotia Gram Panchayat in Odisha's Koraput district, Andhra Pradesh claims that 21 are part of its territory. The claim dates back to British rule, and a case was filed in the Supreme Court in 1968.
In 2006, the Supreme Court asked both states to maintain the status quo. It also observed that the inter-state boundary dispute was best resolved by Parliament under Article 131 of the Constitution.
The Odisha government filed a contempt petition against Andhra Pradesh in 2022 after the neighbouring state held rural elections in the Kotia villages in 2021.
A senior revenue department official in Koraput district told Press Trust of India that the Odisha government was preparing to file another petition in the Supreme Court as Andhra Pradesh had not followed the court's order.
Pujari reviewed the situation with the Koraput district collector through video conferencing and issued directions to protect Odisha's interests. He also spoke to Advocate General Pitambar Acharya and sought his advice on appropriate legal measures.
The minister stressed the need to speed up legal action and strengthen Odisha's administrative presence in the border region. "Our priority is to safeguard the state's legal rights and interests, while simultaneously maintaining peace, stability, and public trust in the Kotia region. The state government is working with firm commitment to take all necessary and appropriate measures to reach a swift and permanent resolution to this long-standing dispute," he said.
The political row intensified as the BJP and the BJD posted animated videos on social media blaming each other for the Kotia dispute, even as Pradhan called for a collective and negotiated solution.
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