Kotia dispute: Congress demands Odisha govt act on Andhra's poll notification
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh has issued a panchayat election notification for Kotia — a cluster of villages Odisha claims as its own — reigniting one of India's most stubborn inter-state boundary disputes. Odisha's Congress chief is demanding the BJP government stop staying silent and take immediate legal and diplomatic action, raising pointed questions about Odia identity politics.
Key Takeaways
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das on 16 October 2026 condemned Andhra Pradesh's panchayat election notification for the Kotia region in Koraput district .
Das called the move a constitutional violation and accused the BJP -led Odisha government of silence despite its Odia-pride electoral platform.
Andhra Pradesh has allegedly been distributing pensions and welfare benefits in Kotia in addition to issuing the election notification.
Congress demanded the Chief Minister or Revenue Minister urgently engage both the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Union Home Minister .
The Kotia boundary dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh has remained unresolved for decades across multiple governments.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das on Friday, 16 October sharply condemned Andhra Pradesh's issuance of a panchayat election notification covering the Kotia region in Koraput district, calling it a direct intrusion into Odisha's territory and demanding immediate government action. Das urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Odisha administration to intervene at once and halt what he described as a constitutional violation by the neighbouring state.
What Andhra Pradesh Has Done
Andhra Pradesh has issued a formal notification scheduling panchayat elections in the Kotia region — an area that Odisha considers its own territory. This is not an isolated incident; according to Das, Andhra Pradesh has repeatedly intervened in the region, including through the distribution of pensions and other welfare benefits to residents, moves he alleged are part of a sustained effort to disrupt Odisha's administrative system in the area.
Congress Demands and Criticism of the BJP
'The Odisha government should have reacted as soon as Andhra's notification was issued and taken immediate steps to stop it. Why is the BJP, which came to power invoking Odia pride and identity, silent on this issue?' Das said. He demanded that the Chief Minister or the Revenue Minister immediately hold discussions with both the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister to resolve the standoff. The Congress also called on the Centre to intervene for a permanent solution to the long-running Kotia boundary dispute.
The Kotia Boundary Dispute: Background
The Kotia cluster of villages has been at the centre of an inter-state territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for decades. Both states claim administrative jurisdiction over the area, and Andhra Pradesh has periodically conducted welfare activities and elections there, each time drawing protests from Odisha. Notably, the dispute has persisted across multiple governments in both states and has never been conclusively settled by the Centre or the courts.
What Happens Next
Das reiterated that the Congress would not tolerate any further encroachment and pledged to stand with the people of Kotia to protect Odisha's territorial integrity. The OPCC's demands put fresh pressure on the state's BJP government to respond publicly, particularly given its electoral messaging around Odia identity. Whether the Odisha government escalates the matter through legal or diplomatic channels — or seeks a hearing before the Supreme Court, as has been attempted in the past — will determine how this latest flashpoint resolves.
Point of View
But the political irony is that the Centre, too, has shown little appetite to force a final settlement that would displease one of the two states involved.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kotia boundary dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh?
The Kotia cluster of villages in Koraput district is claimed by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, making it one of India's longest-running inter-state territorial disputes. Andhra Pradesh has periodically conducted welfare activities and elections in the area, which Odisha contests as interference in its territory.
Why has Andhra Pradesh issued a panchayat election notification for Kotia?
Andhra Pradesh issued the notification as part of its scheduled panchayat elections covering areas it considers under its jurisdiction, including Kotia. Odisha and the Congress party regard this as an unconstitutional encroachment on Odisha's territory.
What has the Congress demanded from the Odisha government?
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das has demanded that the Chief Minister or Revenue Minister immediately hold talks with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister, and that the Centre be asked to find a permanent solution to the Kotia boundary dispute.
Why is the Congress criticising the BJP government in Odisha?
The Congress accuses the BJP of remaining silent despite having won the Odisha state elections partly on a platform of Odia pride and identity. Das argued that the government should have acted immediately after Andhra Pradesh's notification was issued.
What legal or administrative steps can Odisha take?
Odisha can coordinate with the Centre for a formal inter-state boundary resolution, seek a hearing before the Supreme Court, or pursue diplomatic engagement with the Andhra Pradesh government — all avenues that have been explored in the past without a permanent settlement.
