Naveen Questions BJP Government Over Kotia Dispute, Seeks Clarity on Border Protection Measures
Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has launched a sharp attack on the Odisha government over the long-standing Kotia border dispute, questioning the BJP’s commitment to its pre-election promise of resolving the issue under a “double-engine government.”
The criticism comes after Andhra Pradesh issued notifications for local body elections in villages claimed by Odisha.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Patnaik expressed concern over Andhra Pradesh’s move to conduct panchayat elections in villages located within the disputed Kotia region of Koraput district.
The villages mentioned include Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri, which Odisha considers part of its territory.
Patnaik reminded the BJP of its repeated assurances before the 2024 elections that a BJP government in Odisha, supported by the party’s government at the Centre, would permanently resolve the Kotia issue and safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity.
He also referred to the BJP’s earlier “Go Back Andhra” campaign and questioned whether those slogans were merely election rhetoric.
The former Chief Minister further asked why Andhra Pradesh was able to proceed with election preparations despite the BJP holding power in Odisha and at the Centre.
He also sought an explanation on whether political considerations, including the BJP-led NDA’s alliance dynamics with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), were influencing the state’s response to the dispute.
Patnaik additionally demanded that the Odisha government make public the recommendations of the 16-member Kotia Committee constituted in 2025 and disclose the actions taken so far on the panel’s suggestions.
The Kotia dispute involves 28 villages under Kotia Gram Panchayat in Koraput district.
Odisha claims jurisdiction over all 28 villages, while Andhra Pradesh lays claim to 21 villages and has continued administrative outreach in the region.
The matter has remained pending before the Supreme Court for decades, with both states directed to maintain the status quo.
With Andhra Pradesh scheduling rural local body elections in the disputed area, the issue has once again emerged as a major political flashpoint, placing the Odisha government’s handling of the sensitive border dispute under renewed scrutiny.
