BJD delegation to visit Kotia on Oct 23 over Andhra's poll activities in Odisha
Synopsis
With Andhra Pradesh reportedly conducting election-related activities in Odisha's disputed Kotia villages, the BJD is mobilising a 16-member delegation — led by senior former ministers and MLAs — to assess the ground situation on 23 October. Naveen Patnaik has also written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, holding the BJP's own 2024 manifesto promise of resolving Kotia 'once and for all' up as a benchmark for accountability.
Key Takeaways
BJD will send a 16-member delegation to Kotia Panchayat , Koraput district , on 23 October 2026 to protest Andhra Pradesh's reported poll activities.
The visit was sanctioned by BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik .
Delegation members include MLA Manohar Randhari , former ministers Jagannath Saraka , Rabi Narayan Nanda , Ramesh Majhi , and former MP Jhina Hikaka .
Naveen Patnaik has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking intervention on the Kotia issue.
The BJP's 2024 election manifesto promised a 'Double Engine Government' would resolve the Kotia dispute and restore Odia Swabhiman .
The delegation will submit a detailed findings report to Patnaik for further action.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is set to send a 16-member delegation to Kotia Panchayat in Koraput district on 23 October 2026 to protest reported election-related activities by Andhra Pradesh in disputed villages within Pottangi block of Odisha. The visit, sanctioned by BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, is framed as a ground-assessment mission tied directly to concerns over the state's territorial integrity.
What the Delegation Aims to Do
The team is scheduled to interact with residents of the affected villages, assess the prevailing ground situation, and gather first-hand information on the reported activities of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in the disputed Kotia region. According to a party statement, the visit was prompted by the 'seriousness of the matter and its implications for Odisha's territorial integrity and administrative authority.'
After the visit, the delegation will prepare a detailed report and submit it to Naveen Patnaik for further deliberation and appropriate action by the party.
Who is in the Delegation
The 16-member team includes BJD MLA Manohar Randhari, former ministers Jagannath Saraka, Rabi Narayan Nanda, and Ramesh Majhi, as well as former MP Jhina Hikaka, among others. The seniority of the delegation signals that the BJD is treating the Kotia dispute as a matter of significant political and territorial consequence.
Patnaik's Letter to the Chief Minister
The party also referenced a recent letter written by Naveen Patnaik to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging the CM's intervention in the Kotia issue in light of the latest developments. Patnaik pointedly invoked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 2024 election manifesto, in which the party had promised that a 'Double Engine Government' would resolve the Kotia dispute once and for all, safeguard Odisha's territorial integrity, and restore Odia Swabhiman (Odia pride).
Critics argue the BJP government has not acted decisively on these pledges despite holding power both at the state level and at the Centre.
Background: The Kotia Dispute
The Kotia Panchayat cluster — comprising dozens of tribal villages along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border in Koraput district — has been a longstanding territorial flashpoint between the two states. Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claim administrative jurisdiction over these villages, and the dispute has periodically escalated around election cycles, with each state reportedly conducting voter registration and polling activities in the area. This is not the first time the issue has drawn political mobilisation; successive Odisha governments and opposition parties have raised the matter at multiple forums without a definitive resolution.
The BJD maintains that the interests of Kotia residents and Odisha's territorial integrity must be safeguarded through effective State Government action, with due attention to local population concerns. All eyes will now be on Chief Minister Majhi's response to Patnaik's letter and what follow-up action, if any, the state government takes after the delegation submits its findings.
Point of View
' Patnaik is turning the ruling party's rhetoric into an accountability lever. Yet the BJD itself governed Odisha for over two decades without delivering a final resolution on Kotia, a contradiction the party's statement quietly sidesteps. The real question is whether this visit produces actionable findings or remains, like many before it, a statement of political positioning rather than a path to territorial settlement.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is BJD visiting Kotia Panchayat on 23 October?
The BJD is visiting Kotia Panchayat in Koraput district on 23 October to protest Andhra Pradesh's reported election-related activities in the disputed border villages and to assess the ground situation. The visit was approved by BJD president Naveen Patnaik, who has framed it as a response to concerns over Odisha's territorial integrity.
What is the Kotia dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh?
The Kotia Panchayat cluster in Koraput district sits on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, and both states claim administrative jurisdiction over its villages. The dispute has persisted for decades, with each state periodically conducting voter registration and election activities in the area, leading to recurring political tensions.
Who is part of the BJD delegation to Kotia?
The 16-member delegation includes BJD MLA Manohar Randhari, former ministers Jagannath Saraka, Rabi Narayan Nanda, and Ramesh Majhi, along with former MP Jhina Hikaka, among others. The delegation will submit its findings to Naveen Patnaik after the visit.
What has Naveen Patnaik asked Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to do?
Naveen Patnaik has written a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking his intervention in the Kotia issue. He also questioned the BJP government over its failure to fulfil its 2024 manifesto pledge that a 'Double Engine Government' would resolve the Kotia dispute and restore Odia Swabhiman.
What happens after the BJD delegation completes its Kotia visit?
After the visit, the delegation will prepare a detailed report and submit it to Naveen Patnaik for further deliberation and appropriate action by the party. The findings are expected to inform BJD's next steps on the territorial integrity issue.
