Kotia Dispute / CM Mohan Majhi Writes to Naveen Patnaik, Reaffirms Odisha's Claim Over Kotia Villages

Bhubaneswar, Oct 27: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has written to BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik regarding the long-pending inter-State boundary dispute involving the Kotia group of villages in Odisha's Koraput district, reiterating that the region has remained an integral part of the State since Odisha's formation in 1936.

In a letter dated October 27, CM Majhi acknowledged receiving  former CM Patnaik's communication of October 19 on the Kotia issue and reaffirmed the State government's commitment to safeguarding Odisha's territorial integrity and legitimate interests through lawful and constitutional means.

୧୯୩୬ ମସିହାରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନ ହେବା ଦିନଠାରୁ କୋରାପୁଟର କୋଟିଆ ଗ୍ରାମପୁଞ୍ଜ ଆମ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଏକ ଅବିଚ୍ଛେଦ୍ୟ ଅଙ୍ଗ। ରାଜ୍ୟର ଭୌଗୋଳିକ ଅଖଣ୍ଡତା ଏବଂ ଜନସାଧାରଣଙ୍କ ନ୍ୟାଯ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥ ସୁରକ୍ଷାରେ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାର ଆପୋଷ ବୁଝାମଣା କରାଯିବ ନାହିଁ। ଆମ ସରକାର କେବଳ ଆଇନଗତ ଲଢ଼େଇରେ ସୀମିତ ନ ରହି ରାଜସ୍ୱ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ଏକ ଉଚ୍ଚସ୍ତରୀୟ କମିଟି ଗଠନ କରି କୋଟିଆର ସାମାଜିକ, ଆର୍ଥିକ ତଥା ମୌଳିକ ଭିତ୍ତିଭୂମିର ସାମଗ୍ରିକ ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ନିରନ୍ତର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଛନ୍ତି। କୋଟିଆ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳ ନେତା ଶ୍ରୀ ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ପତ୍ରର ଉତ୍ତର ରଖିଲି। ଏହି ଦୀର୍ଘଦିନର ସମ୍ବେଦନଶୀଳ ଆନ୍ତଃରାଜ୍ୟ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗକୁ ରାଜନୈତିକ ଫାଇଦା ପାଇଁ ଏକ ମୁଦ୍ଦା କରିବା ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ସମସ୍ତେ ସଂଯମତା, ଦାୟିତ୍ୱବୋଧ ଏବଂ ନ୍ୟାୟିକ ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ମାନ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ରାଜ୍ୟର ହିତ ପାଇଁ କେବଳ ରାଜନୈତିକ ବୟାନବାଜି ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ , ସାମ୍ବିଧାନିକ ତଥା ଗଠନମୂଳକ ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ ଆସିଲେ ସରକାର ତାହାକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଆନ୍ତରିକତାର ସହ ବିଚାରକୁ ନେବେ। Kotia has been an inseparable part of Odisha since the formation of the separate province in 1936. There will be no compromise on safeguarding the state’s territorial integrity and the legitimate interests of its people. Our Government is pursuing the legal battle while ensuring Kotia’s holistic development through a high-level committee led by the Revenue Minister. In my response to the Hon’ble Leader of Opposition Shri @Naveen_Odisha's letter, I emphasised that this sensitive inter-state issue demands restraint, responsibility and respect for the judicial process, not political rhetoric. Constructive, constitutional proposals in Odisha’s interest will always receive sincere consideration.

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 27, 2026

Kotia Integral to Odisha

The Chief Minister emphasised that the Kotia group of villages has historically been part of Odisha and asserted that the government remains firm in protecting the State's territorial interests. He, however, observed that the contents of Patnaik's letter appeared to approach the sensitive boundary issue from a political standpoint rather than offering constructive and legally sustainable solutions.

CM Majhi stated that the State government would continue to pursue the matter through appropriate legal and constitutional forums while ensuring that the interests of the people living in the border region are protected.

Development Focus

Highlighting ongoing efforts in the region, the Chief Minister said the government has accorded priority to the development of Kotia and adjoining areas with the objective of promoting inclusive growth, strengthening public service delivery and improving the welfare of local residents.

He noted that a committee, chaired by the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, has been constituted to oversee the integrated development of the Kotia Gram Panchayat area. Senior Ministers and officials have also been undertaking regular visits to the region to assess development requirements and ensure coordinated action.

CM Majhi said the government has consistently upheld Odisha's territorial interests while simultaneously focusing on the socio-economic advancement of people residing in Kotia and nearby villages.

Also Read: Odisha to Hold All-Party Meeting Over Kotia Issue Amid Andhra Poll Row

Call for Constructive Approach

Referring to the sensitivity of the issue, the Chief Minister urged all stakeholders to act with restraint, responsibility and respect for the judicial process.

He also called upon Patnaik to adopt a constructive approach towards resolving the long-pending dispute and invited suggestions that could be considered by the government for a lasting solution.

Reiterating his government's position, CM Majhi said Odisha remains committed to safeguarding every aspect of its territorial integrity while ensuring sustained development and welfare initiatives in Kotia and adjoining areas.

The exchange comes amid renewed political attention on the Kotia issue, which has remained a longstanding point of contention between Odisha and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.