Patnaik questions Odisha silence as Andhra panchayat polls target disputed Kotia villages
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik wrote to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi asking why the state has not responded to Andhra Pradesh's panchayat elections that include villages claimed by both states.
On Oct 19, BJD leader Naveen Patnaik sent a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi demanding an explanation for Odisha's lack of comment on Andhra Pradesh's upcoming panchayat elections that encompass villages claimed by both states. Patnaik referenced the BJP's earlier manifesto promise of a "double engine" government to settle the Kotia issue and restore Odia pride, questioning whether the slogan "Go Back Andhra" is merely electoral rhetoric.
He highlighted the Telugu Desam Party's role as a key ally of the BJP-led central government and asked if this dependence influences Odisha's silence. Patnaik also asked for the recommendations of the Kotia Committee set up in 2025 and any steps taken on them. The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has scheduled rural polls in three phases, including the Parvathipuram Manyam district that contains the disputed villages, though polling dates for Kotia remain unspecified. Local officials said they are monitoring the situation and will act as needed.
Why it matters
The dispute affects territorial integrity and inter-state political dynamics in eastern India.
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