Kotia Dispute / Odisha to Hold All-Party Meeting Over Kotia Issue Amid Andhra Poll Row

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: The long-pending Kotia border dispute has once again moved from the courtroom and administrative files to the political frontline. With Andhra Pradesh proceeding with panchayat election-related activities in three villages of the disputed Kotia region, the Odisha government has decided to convene an all-party meeting, while the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has sent a 16-member delegation to the area.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said the meeting would be held on Saturday after consultation with the Chief Secretary and with the approval of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The government is also preparing to approach the Supreme Court, even as it seeks to evolve a collective political position on the issue.

Ground-level activity

Officials in Koraput district have intensified monitoring in the border villages. The Sub-Collector has been visiting the area since Thursday to assess the situation and coordinate with local authorities. The move follows Andhra Pradesh’s election notification, which has renewed concerns over administrative jurisdiction in Kotia.

The BJD delegation, coordinated by former Koraput MP Jhina Hikaka, visited Kotia on Friday to interact with residents and gather first-hand information. The party said the team would submit a report to BJD president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik.

Words of exchange

The issue has also triggered a sharp exchange between the ruling BJP and the BJD. The BJP accused the previous BJD government of remaining silent during its 24 years in office, pointing to earlier statements in the Assembly and remarks by then tourism minister Ashwini Patra on Deomali’s revenue records.
Also Read: Kotia Is an Integral Part of Odisha, Not an Inch of Land Will Be Given Away: BJP

BJP leaders said former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had visited Kotia several times and taken up issues such as mobile connectivity in the region. They asserted that the party would not allow “even an inch” of Odisha’s land to be encroached upon.

Pradhan, however, has called for a solution beyond party politics, urging Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to create a cordial atmosphere and resolve the dispute through dialogue.

With the all-party meeting scheduled for Saturday, attention will now be on whether Odisha’s political parties can present a united position on a dispute that has remained unresolved for decades.