BJD delegation to visit disputed Kotia villages in Odisha

A delegation from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is scheduled to visit the disputed Kotia Panchayat area in Odisha's Koraput district to protest electoral activities by neighboring Andhra Pradesh. The region, located in the Eastern Ghats, has been the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute between the two states, a matter currently pending before the Supreme Court.

Residents of these villages possess the unique ability to vote in elections for both states. The BJD delegation, including former MP Jhinia Hikaaka and several others, aims to assess the ground situation and gather information regarding recent electoral movements. The party intends to submit a detailed report to BJD chief Naveen Patnaik following the visit.

Naveen Patnaik previously urged the Odisha Chief Minister to intervene, citing the BJP's failure to fulfill election promises regarding the Kotia issue. While the Odisha government considers legal options to protect its administrative rights, Andhra Pradesh continues to insist on conducting panchayat elections in three of the disputed villages.