The long-standing territorial dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the Kotia region has returned to the political spotlight after Andhra Pradesh issued a notification for panchayat elections in three villages claimed by Odisha. The development prompted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik to question the BJP-led Odisha government's response.

In a letter dated October 19, 2026, Patnaik raised concerns with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the election notification covering Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri villages in Kotia gram panchayat, which falls under Koraput district in Odisha. He questioned why the state government had not prevented the development despite earlier political commitments to protect Odisha's territorial boundaries.

 

Naveen Patnaik questions BJP's response

Patnaik questioned whether the BJP's political alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which governs Andhra Pradesh, was influencing the Odisha government's handling of the dispute. The TDP is an important ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

The former Odisha chief minister also recalled that BJP leaders had previously asserted Odisha's claim over Kotia and used the slogan “Go Back Andhra” in opposition to Andhra Pradesh's presence in the region.

Patnaik further referred to the BJP's promise ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections to resolve the Kotia dispute, safeguard Odisha's territorial integrity and protect Odia identity and pride. His questions represent the opposition's criticism of the state government's response; they do not independently establish that the political alliance has influenced government decisions.

 

Three disputed villages at the centre of the latest controversy

The immediate issue concerns Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri, three villages in the Kotia gram panchayat area of Koraput district. Andhra Pradesh's election notification has renewed concerns over competing territorial and administrative claims between the neighbouring states.

The wider Kotia dispute involves a cluster of 28 villages. Odisha maintains that the villages belong to its territory, while Andhra Pradesh also claims 21 of them and provides administrative services in parts of the region.

The competing claims have persisted for decades, making Kotia a sensitive issue in relations between the two state governments.

 

Questions raised over the Kotia committee

Patnaik also sought information about the work of the 16-member high-level Kotia Committee constituted by the Odisha government in 2025. He asked what recommendations the committee had submitted and what action had been taken to implement them.

The questions place the committee's work and the Odisha government's response to the border dispute under renewed political scrutiny. Details of the committee's recommendations and their implementation were not established in the report.

Odisha government says it is prepared to respond

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari rejected the opposition's allegations of double standards and said the state government was prepared to counter provocative actions by Andhra Pradesh.

According to reports, the minister said the Revenue Divisional Commissioner of the southern division had been asked to assess the situation and remain vigilant. The Koraput district administration was also monitoring developments, with officials directed to ensure that Kotia did not become part of Andhra Pradesh's election process.

 

Long-running dispute remains before the Supreme Court

The Kotia territorial dispute has a lengthy legal history. The matter reached the Supreme Court in 1968, and the court directed the states to maintain the status quo. In 2006, the court held that inter-state boundary disputes of this nature were matters for Parliament under Article 131 of the Constitution, as reported by news agencies.

Odisha filed a fresh suit in January 2022, which remains under consideration. The latest election notification has therefore brought political disagreements and the unresolved legal dispute back into focus.

 

The next developments will depend on the actions taken by both state governments, the handling of the election process in the disputed villages and progress in resolving the territorial claims. For now, the issue has renewed debate over Odisha's political commitments, inter-state relations and the administration of the Kotia region.