Naveen Patnaik questioned Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over Andhra Pradesh's Kotia election notification. The row tests Odisha's territorial claims amid the BJP's alliance with Andhra's ruling TDP.
Stock photo used for illustration
Bhubaneswar,Oct 19, 2026 20:00 IST
Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik has questioned whether the BJP-led Odisha government's silence over Andhra Pradesh announcing panchayat elections in three villages of the disputed Kotia region is linked to its dependence on NDA ally Telugu Desam Party, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have for decades claimed 21 of the 28 villages in Kotia gram panchayat. The dispute is before the Supreme Court, where a fresh suit filed by Odisha in January 2022 remains under consideration.
Patnaik, the leader of the opposition in the Odisha Assembly, raised the issue in a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. He expressed concern over Andhra Pradesh's notification announcing elections in Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri villages of Kotia gram panchayat.
“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,” the former chief minister said.
He asked whether “political dependence is the reason for the silence of the BJP government in Odisha and its willingness to compromise with the state's interests and territorial integrity”.
“What were the recommendations of the 16-member high-level Kotia Committee constituted in 2025? What actions have been taken to implement them?” Patnaik asked. He said he had fought throughout his tenure as chief minister to protect Odisha's territorial integrity.
Patnaik reminded Majhi that BJP leaders in Odisha had repeatedly asserted that Kotia belonged to the state and had raised the “Go Back Andhra” slogan.
He said the BJP had promised before the 2024 elections that a “double-engine” government would resolve the Kotia issue, safeguard Odisha's territorial integrity and restore Odia pride.
“What happened to those promises? Despite Odisha having a so-called double-engine government, it is deeply concerning that Andhra Pradesh has proceeded to announce elections in Kotia,” Patnaik said in the letter.
“Will the double-engine government stand firm in safeguarding Odisha's territorial integrity and constitutional rights, or will it once again yield to pressure from the Centre?” he asked, adding that the people of Odisha deserved clear answers and accountability.
Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Sunday that the BJP government was fully prepared to “thwart any provocative attempts by the neighbouring state”, according to PTI.
“Kotia gram panchayat is an integral part of Odisha and its people are with the state,” Pujari said. He added that the Revenue Divisional Commissioner of the southern division had been asked to assess the situation and remain vigilant.
The Koraput district collector was also monitoring the situation, and both officials had been directed to ensure that Kotia did not become part of Andhra Pradesh's election process, the minister said.
Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, an MLA from Koraput district, sought the state government's immediate intervention. “The Odisha BJP government's double standards on Kotia have allowed Andhra Pradesh to make its claim over the region,” he alleged.
The dispute over the Kotia cluster reached the Supreme Court in 1968, when it directed Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to maintain the status quo. In 2006, the court ruled that such inter-state boundary disputes were best resolved by Parliament under Article 131 of the Constitution.
With Odisha's fresh suit pending before the Supreme Court since January 2022, the opposition has sought action from the state government after Andhra Pradesh announced panchayat elections in three villages claimed by Odisha.
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