Oppn. accuses BJP govt. in Odisha of ‘silence’ on disputed region with A.P.

Tribal women from Kotia on the Andhra-Odisha border region. File | Photo Credit: V.

Raju The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) accused the Odisha unit of the BJP of compromising the State’s territorial integrity in Kotia due to the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) support for the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and keeping a ‘studied silence’ about the region being claimed by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.Also Read: Odisha’s contempt petition in Supreme Court over Kotia panchayat election | ExplainedBoth BJD and Congress voiced concern about Kotia after the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government issued a notification for conducting rural polls in three panchayats on November 28. Former Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has also penned a letter to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi drawing his attention to the notification.Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, who was at home for Dasara holiday on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), took a review meeting virtually with senior officials including the department’s Secretary Arabinda Padhee, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern Division) Sangram Keshari Mohapatra and Koraput District Magistrate Manoj Satyawan Mahajan from Sambalpur district.Mr.

Pujari instructed the Koraput Collector and Superintendent of Police to keep a close watch on situation in Kotia due to upcoming rural polls.The territorial dispute over KotiaOdisha and Andhra Pradesh have been locked in a territorial dispute over Kotia for more than seven decades, dating back to March 1955, when Andhra officials attempted to collect rent from villagers. Efforts by then Union Home Minister Y.

B. Chavan to resolve the dispute failed, prompting Odisha to move the Supreme Court in 1968.In order to win over local populace, Andhra Pradesh stepped up the implementation of welfare schemes in the region after 2015.

Reacting to development, Odisha formed an inter-departmental committee in 2018 to monitor welfare activities and road construction by Andhra Pradesh. The then BJD government had announced a special package of over Rs 100 crore for Kotia’s development.Both States subsequently held panchayat elections in the disputed region in 2021 and 2022.

It is to be noted that majority of voters in Kotia group of villages hold voter identity card of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.“The BJP government in Odisha had formed a high power committee on Kotia issue. Meeting of the committee was hardly convened once or twice.

The outcome of committee meeting was never made public. If Odisha government dare to take action against Andhra Pradesh Government, there is possibility of Narendra Modi Government could collapse.

In order to save central government, Odisha government is maintaining silence,” BJD MLA Arun Sahoo said.Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhakta Charan Das also levelled a similar allegation. “Why is the silence? What we have understood that BJP at Centre was depending on TDP’s support.

For this, Odisha’s BJP government has surrendered.”BJD supremo’s letter to Odisha CMIn his letter addressed to Mr. Majhi on Monday (October 19, 2026), BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik said, “During my tenure as CM, we were fighting to protect the territorial integrity of our State.

BJP leaders have repeatedly asserted in the past that Kotia belongs to Odisha and have raised the slogan ‘Go Back Andhra’.““Before the 2024 elections, the BJP promised in its manifesto that a double engine government would resolve the Kotia issue once and for all, safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity, and restore Odia Swabhiman. What happened to these promises?,” he asked.“What makes this even more troubling is that the TDP, which governs Andhra Pradesh, is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA government much needed to maintain its majority at the Centre.

Is political dependence the reason for the Odisha BJP government’s silence and its willingness to compromise Odisha’s interests and territorial integrity?” Mr. Patnaik further questioned.“The people of Odisha deserve clear answers and accountability on these commitments.

Will the Double Engine Government stand firm in safeguarding Odisha’s territorial integrity and constitutional rights, or will it once again yield to pressure from the Centre?”“The State government must act decisively and take all necessary steps to safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity and uphold its sovereignty over Kotia,” Mr. Patnaik said in his letter.