Odisha Leaders Demand Unity Over Kotia Border Dispute
Odisha officials and political leaders are calling for a permanent resolution to the Kotia border dispute following Andhra Pradesh's attempts to hold local elections in the region.
The government of Odisha and local political leaders have intensified efforts to resolve a long-standing border dispute over the Kotia gram panchayat in the Koraput district. Tensions renewed after the government of Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, attempted to conduct local body elections in the contested region.
Dharmendra Pradhan, a former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP, urged political parties to set aside affiliations and unite to protect the sovereignty and integrity of Odisha. Pradhan noted that he had previously attempted to mediate the conflict through correspondence with former chief ministers Naveen Patnaik and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy between 2020 and 2022.
Simultaneously, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced a commitment to a permanent resolution. Pujari held a virtual review meeting with the district administration and Advocate General Pitambar Acharya to strengthen Odisha's administrative presence and expedite legal measures. The dispute has a lengthy legal history, including a 2006 Supreme Court dismissal of boundary petitions and a 2022 court case filed by Odisha. The state also previously filed a contempt of court petition after Andhra Pradesh held elections in the area in February 2021.
