Former Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has escalated political pressure on Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the long-standing border dispute involving the Kotia village cluster. In a formal communication addressed to Majhi, Patnaik questioned the state administration's ongoing silence following Andhra Pradesh's move to announce panchayat elections that may encompass the disputed border territory.
According to reporting by Times of India — Top Stories, the political friction intensified as leaders from across the political spectrum, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, voiced their perspectives on the administration's handling of the interstate border issue.
Scrutiny Over Election Rhetoric
Patnaik sharply questioned the current state government's stance, asking whether the previously touted "Go Back Andhra" slogan was merely an election gimmick. The BJD leader expressed concern over the lack of public opposition or formal resistance from the Mohan Majhi-led government in Bhubaneswar as the neighboring state prepares to conduct local council voting across the contested border pocket.
The Kotia region has remained a persistent territorial flashpoint between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with both state administrations periodically attempting to assert administrative control, deliver welfare schemes, and organize local governance mechanisms in the cluster of villages.
Widening Political Debate
Patnaik's letter has catalyzed broader debate within Odisha's political landscape. Leaders from both the Congress party and the ruling BJP have also weighed in on the jurisdiction issue, scrutinizing the legal and administrative steps available to protect the state's territorial boundaries.
With Andhra Pradesh moving forward with local election preparations that touch upon the contested area, the state government now faces intensifying calls from the opposition to clarify its administrative strategy and address cross-border jurisdictional challenges in Kotia.
