Kotia Border Tensions Escalate as Andhra Leaders Allegedly Defy Restrictions Ahead of Elections
Koraput: Tensions have resurfaced in the long-disputed Kotia region along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, with reports of Andhra Pradesh political leaders continuing election campaigns despite prohibitory orders imposed by the Odisha administration.
According to local reports, campaign activities are allegedly being conducted discreetly in several disputed villages, raising concerns over law and order in the sensitive border area.
Odisha authorities had imposed Section 144 in parts of the Kotia region to prevent unauthorised political activities and maintain peace during the election period.
However, Andhra Pradesh political representatives are reportedly adopting low-profile strategies, entering villages through interior routes and conducting door-to-door outreach during nighttime hours.
The shift in campaign tactics is believed to have intensified after Odisha officials reportedly seized a campaign vehicle linked to Andhra political activities in the area.
Since then, candidates have allegedly avoided large public gatherings and instead focused on brief interactions with residents.
To enforce restrictions, Odisha has established round-the-clock police checkpoints across the disputed region.
Nevertheless, the area’s rugged terrain and remote hill routes continue to pose challenges for effective monitoring and enforcement.
The development has once again highlighted the complexities of the decades-old Kotia border dispute.
Several villagers in the region have reportedly expressed support for Andhra Pradesh’s welfare initiatives, claiming they receive benefits from the neighbouring state and intend to participate in its electoral process.
Reports also suggest that campaign activities have spread beyond the core Kotia villages to neighbouring settlements under Nuagaon panchayat, including Galigabdar, Digugabdar, and Uparpanaki.
As elections draw closer, the renewed political contest in the border region is likely to keep administrative agencies on high alert while reigniting debates over jurisdiction, governance, and the future of the disputed Kotia villages.
