States » WestPosted at: Oct 19 2026 10:02PM


Andhra announces Kotia polls, Naveen questions BJP over Odisha’s rights

Bhubaneswar, 19 Oct (UNI) BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday questioned the BJP government’s commitment to Odisha’s territorial integrity after Andhra Pradesh announced local body elections in Kotia, a disputed border region in Koraput district, asking whether the BJP’s pre-2024 poll promise of a permanent solution to the dispute had been reduced to a electgion slogan.
Describing the development as “extremely alarming”, Patnaik asked what had happened to the BJP’s assurances that its “double-engine” government would resolve the Kotia dispute, safeguard Odisha’s geographical integrity and uphold Odia pride.
During his tenure as Chief Minister, the BJD had fought to protect the state’s territorial boundaries, he said, recalling that BJP leaders had repeatedly asserted that Kotia belonged to Odisha and raised the “Andhra Go Back” slogan.
Patnaik questioned whether the Odisha BJP government’s silence was linked to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh and a key ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. He asked whether political compulsions were preventing the state government from firmly defending Odisha’s interests.
He also sought details of the recommendations made by the 16-member high-level Kotia committee constituted in 2025 and the action taken to implement them. Calling for firm measures to protect Odisha’s territorial integrity and rights over Kotia, he said the state government must provide clear answers to the people.
The CPI (M) Odisha State Committee also criticised the BJP government’s alleged silence, accusing it of compromising Odisha’s interests under pressure from coalition politics. It said the “Go Back Andhra” slogan appeared to have been an electoral tactic rather than a commitment to resolving the dispute.
The CPI (M) demanded a white paper on the Kotia committee’s recommendations and their implementation, along with steps to strengthen Odisha’s administrative presence in the region and provide residents with basic amenities.
It urged the state government to immediately initiate necessary administrative and legal measures to protect Kotia and Odisha’s territorial boundaries, asserting that the state’s interests must not be sacrificed for political alliances.
UNI MK MCR
Tags: #Andhra announces Kotia polls# Naveen questions BJP over Odisha’s rights
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