Kotia villages integral to Odisha since 1936, CM Majhi tells Naveen Patnaik
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has pushed back at BJD chief Naveen Patnaik over the Kotia boundary dispute, asserting the villages have been part of Odisha since 1936 and accusing Patnaik of politicising a sensitive legal matter — even as a ministerial committee oversees the region's development.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi wrote to BJD president Naveen Patnaik on 27 October 2026 over the Kotia group of villages boundary dispute.
Majhi asserted that Kotia has been part of Odisha since the state's formation in 1936 .
The CM accused Patnaik's letter of approaching the issue from a 'political standpoint' rather than offering legally tenable solutions.
A committee headed by the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister has been formed to oversee integrated development of Kotia Gram Panchayat areas.
Majhi called for restraint and respect for the judicial process , while inviting Patnaik's constructive suggestions.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, wrote to Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, asserting that the Kotia group of villages in Koraput district has been an integral part of Odisha since the state's formation in 1936 and urging the opposition leader to offer constructive, legally grounded suggestions to resolve the long-standing inter-state boundary dispute.
What Majhi's Letter Says
Majhi acknowledged receiving Patnaik's earlier letter dated 19 October on the Kotia dispute. In his reply, he affirmed that the state government remains firmly committed to protecting Odisha's territorial integrity through lawful and constitutional means. 'The Kotia Group of Villages has been an integral part of Odisha since the formation of the separate State of Odisha in 1936,' Majhi wrote.
Responding to what he described as a politically framed approach in Patnaik's letter, Majhi was pointed: 'I am constrained to observe that the contents of your letter appear to approach this sensitive issue from a political standpoint rather than advance constructive and legally tenable solutions for its resolution.'
Development Push in Kotia
Beyond the territorial assertion, Majhi highlighted the government's active steps to develop the Kotia region. A committee headed by the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, comprising senior officials, has been constituted to oversee the integrated development of Kotia Gram Panchayat areas. Ministers and senior officials have also visited the region to assess development needs, improve public service delivery, and enhance the well-being of local residents.
Call for Judicial Restraint and Cross-Party Cooperation
The Chief Minister urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint and respect the ongoing judicial process. 'In view of the sensitivity of this long-standing inter-state matter, all concerned must act with restraint, responsibility and respect for the judicial process,' he stated. He reiterated that the government will defend Odisha's claim before all appropriate legal and constitutional forums.
Majhi concluded by inviting Patnaik's constructive input, writing: 'I would appreciate receiving your constructive suggestions, if any, for resolution of this long-pending issue, for consideration of the Government.'
Background: The Kotia Dispute
The Kotia group of villages has been a flashpoint in the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh inter-state boundary dispute for decades. Both states have historically claimed administrative jurisdiction over the cluster of villages in Koraput district, and the matter is currently being contested through legal and constitutional channels. The exchange of letters between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the principal opposition BJD signals renewed political attention to the issue, even as both sides frame their positions differently.
Point of View
The ruling party has a clear incentive to project firmness on territorial issues that the previous government is seen as having left unresolved. Patnaik writing first — and Majhi's sharp rebuke that the letter was 'political' rather than constructive — suggests both sides are playing to their respective bases ahead of any judicial development. The real question is whether the development committee constituted by the state will translate into visible improvements on the ground, or whether Kotia remains primarily a symbol deployed during political skirmishes rather than a community receiving consistent governance attention.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kotia boundary dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh?
The Kotia group of villages in Koraput district has been claimed by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for decades, with both states asserting administrative jurisdiction. The matter is currently before legal and constitutional forums.
Why did Odisha CM Majhi write to Naveen Patnaik about Kotia?
Majhi wrote on 27 October 2026 in response to a letter from Patnaik dated 19 October, asserting Odisha's claim over Kotia and asking Patnaik to offer constructive, legally grounded suggestions rather than a political framing of the dispute.
What has the Odisha government done for the development of Kotia?
The state has constituted a committee headed by the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister to oversee integrated development of Kotia Gram Panchayat areas. Ministers and senior officials have also visited the region to review development needs and coordinate efforts.
Since when does Odisha claim Kotia as its territory?
Majhi stated in his letter that the Kotia group of villages has been an integral part of Odisha since the formation of the separate state of Odisha in 1936.
What is Naveen Patnaik's role in the Kotia dispute?
Naveen Patnaik, as Leader of Opposition and BJD president, wrote to CM Majhi on 19 October regarding the Kotia dispute. Majhi's reply acknowledged the letter but criticised it for taking a political rather than a legally constructive approach.
