Odisha–Andhra Pradesh Border Dispute Resurfaces Over Kotia Elections

The long-standing territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Kotia region has resurfaced. The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a notification to conduct panchayat elections in 21 villages in the disputed region. Both states have asserted claims over the area, making the proposed elections a fresh point of contention.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, raised objections to the conduct of election-related activities in three villages in the Kotia region on October 23. The development has once again drawn attention to the ongoing boundary dispute between the two states.