Odisha Leaders To Assemble In Kotia To Oppose Andhra’s Poll Activities, Seven Police Platoons Deployed

Bhubaneswar: Political leaders from various parties in Odisha will assemble in the disputed Kotia region to oppose Andhra Pradesh’s election-related activities, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Tuesday.

Pujari said local residents, political parties and social organisations would be present in Kotia on polling day to protest Andhra Pradesh’s decision to conduct elections in the disputed border region.

To prevent any untoward incident, the Odisha government has stepped up security arrangements, deploying seven platoons of police personnel and setting up checkpoints along the border. Senior administrative officials will also monitor the situation.

The minister said residents of Kotia had opposed Andhra Pradesh’s election activities, while political parties in Koraput had already united on the issue.

He added that the Odisha government’s assistance during the recent cyclone had further strengthened the confidence of Kotia residents in the state administration.

Pujari pointed out that while Andhra Pradesh had established polling booths within Kotia during previous elections, polling stations for the current election have been shifted outside the disputed region, within its own territory.

Legal Battle Over Kotia

Referring to the long-standing boundary dispute, Pujari said the then Odisha government had approached the Supreme Court in 1968. After losing the case in 2010, the previous state government again moved the apex court in 2021, alleging contempt of court.

He added that the present Odisha government has also filed another petition before the Supreme Court and is consulting legal experts to strengthen its case.

Describing Andhra Pradesh’s activities as a potential constitutional crisis, Pujari said the state government was fully prepared to deal with the situation and safeguard Odisha’s interests in Kotia.