The Odisha government is set to reinstate its contempt petition in the Supreme Court concerning the Kotia group of villages in the Koraput district, as announced by Minister Suresh Pujari. This decision comes in response to the Andhra Pradesh government’s recent notification to conduct panchayat elections in three villages within the Kotia gram panchayat.
During a high-level virtual meeting held in Sambalpur, Pujari revealed that the state has developed a comprehensive plan to bolster its legal claim over the contested villages located in the Pottangi block. The Advocate General has been tasked with reviewing the current status of the ongoing contempt proceedings.
To ensure effective monitoring, the government will be dispatching personnel from both the Revenue and Police departments to the area. They will evaluate the situation on the ground, track progress on development initiatives, and provide daily updates through the Koraput collector and Superintendent of Police.
Pujari criticized the previous BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik for its handling of the Kotia matter, suggesting that it failed to safeguard the state’s interests. He accused the former administration of lacking sufficient preparation and strategy, claiming that if the past government had acted rather than merely sending letters, the residents of Kotia would have been more trusting.
He asserted that the current BJP administration has prioritized development in Kotia since taking office, with ministers frequently visiting the region to address local issues and foster public trust. Pujari noted that conditions in Kotia have improved compared to 2022, citing efforts to resolve community problems and ensure that government programs effectively reach the residents.
Previously, after Andhra Pradesh announced its plans for the elections, Naveen Patnaik wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accusing the BJP government of being lenient regarding the Kotia situation due to the NDA’s reliance on the TDP for support at the Center.
Patnaik expressed concern over the TDP’s role as a key ally in the BJP-led NDA government, questioning whether this political dependence was influencing the Odisha BJP government’s inaction and compromises regarding the state’s territorial integrity.
He recalled his own administration’s efforts to protect Odisha’s borders, reminding constituents that the BJP had vowed in its 2024 election manifesto to resolve the Kotia issue and uphold the state’s territorial rights.
Patnaik questioned the fulfillment of these commitments, expressing alarm that Andhra Pradesh proceeded with the elections despite Odisha having a double-engine government. He also challenged the sincerity behind the slogan ‘Andhra Go Back’ and its implications for voter trust.
The former chief minister demanded updates on the recommendations made by a 16-member committee concerning Kotia, which was established in 2025.
Additionally, senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan called for unity among political leaders, regardless of party lines, to address the Kotia dispute effectively. He emphasized the need for dialogue to create a positive atmosphere conducive to finding a resolution. Pradhan, who has previously visited Kotia, had reached out to both Naveen and the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, to seek a swift resolution to Andhra Pradesh’s involvement in the region.
