States » EastPosted at: Oct 27 2026 9:17PM


BJD accuses Odisha BJP Government of ‘surrendering’ on Kotia dispute, demands firm action

Bhubaneswar, Oct 27(UNI) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday accused the BJP government in Odisha of failing to protect the state’s interests in the Kotia border dispute, alleging that Andhra Pradesh’s preparations for panchayat elections in the disputed area had exposed the state government’s inaction.
Addressing a press conference at party headquarters here, BJD vice-president and MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo and senior general secretary and spokesperson Pradeep Majhi urged the Mohan Charan Majhi government to take immediate steps to prevent Andhra Pradesh from conducting elections in Kotia.
Sahoo said the border dispute had become more complicated over the past two-and-a-half years despite the BJP being in power in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and at the Centre. He alleged that the Odisha government had failed to take effective measures even after Andhra Pradesh issued a notification on October 10 for panchayat elections in the disputed area.
Referring to former chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s letter to Majhi on October 19, Sahoo said the chief minister had subsequently directed the Advocate General to examine the status of the contempt-of-court case. Another contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court on October 23, he said.
Sahoo questioned the state government’s silence on the issue, alleging that the BJP had failed to translate its repeated assertions on Odia Asmita (Odia pride and identity) into concrete action. He urged the government to take firm steps to safeguard Odisha’s territorial claims.
Drawing a comparison with the Mahanadi water dispute, Sahoo questioned why the chief minister had held discussions with his Chhattisgarh counterpart but had not pursued a similar dialogue with the Andhra Pradesh chief minister to resolve the Kotia issue.
He claimed that nearly 95 per cent of Kotia’s population belonged to tribal communities and alleged that residents had not received their pensions for four months. The BJD leader also alleged that Andhra Pradesh had created four gram panchayats in the area and made arrangements for polling booths, including one at Neridivalasa and others outside Odisha.
Questioning the Odisha government’s response, BJD spokesperson Pradeep Majhi said it had failed to take adequate steps to prevent the proposed elections.
The party plans to mobilise its MPs, MLAs, former legislators and other functionaries for a sustained protest at Neridivalasa, Majhi said, adding that the BJD would oppose any move to establish a polling booth there.
UNI DP
Tags: #BJD accuses Odisha BJP Government of ‘surrendering’ on Kotia dispute# demands firm action
More News

NDA’s Narendra Prasad Singh wins Tirhut Teachers’ constituency, CPI’s Sanjay Singh finishes third

28 Oct 2026 | 12:15 AM

Muzaffarpur, Oct 27 (UNI) NDA-backed candidate Narendra Prasad Singh has won the Tirhut Teachers’ Constituency election to the Bihar Legislative Council, defeating independent candidate Bhushan Jha by 594 votes.

see more..

Bengal: Baguiati family alleges sexual assault, blackmail of 13-year-old daughter: police begin probe

28 Oct 2026 | 12:13 AM

Kolkata, Oct 27 (UNI) A family in Baguiati has lodged a police complaint alleging that their 13-year-old daughter was drugged and sexually assaulted after being taken to a hotel in the Bandel area. The family has also alleged that videos of the incident were recorded and later used to threaten and blackmail them. Baguiati police have started an investigation.

see more..

Sarsuna incident: Accused paraded shirtless during crime reconstruction

27 Oct 2026 | 11:43 PM

Kolkata, Oct 27 (UNI) In a shocking incident in Sarsuna, in the Behala area of south-west Kolkata, three men were allegedly forced to walk naked as punishment after a young man kissed his girlfriend, who is a minor.

see more..

Jan Suraj opens account in Bihar Legislative Council by winning Darbhanga Teachers' constituency, snatches seat from Congress

27 Oct 2026 | 11:38 PM

Darbhanga, Oct 27 (UNI) In a significant electoral breakthrough, the Jan Suraj Party today opened its account in the Bihar Legislative Council, with its candidate Suresh Prasad Rai winning the Darbhanga Teachers’ Constituency election by a margin of 387 votes.

see more..

Narendra Prasad Singh of BJP wins Bihar Legislative Council Tirhut Teachers Constituency election

27 Oct 2026 | 11:33 PM

UNI XC RS RN.

see more..