A fresh political development has emerged in the long-standing Kotia dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with reports suggesting a possible change in the neighbouring state’s election strategy. Discussions involving candidates from both political parties and local villagers have reportedly raised the possibility of replacing the election process with a selection-based arrangement.
The reported development has generated fresh debate in Odisha’s political circles. It comes at a time when the Kotia region has once again become a centre of tension following Andhra Pradesh’s decision to conduct local body elections in disputed villages.
However, whether Andhra Pradesh has officially withdrawn its election plan or agreed to replace polling with a selection process remains unclear.
Candidates and Villagers Discuss Possible Selection Process
According to the latest information emerging from Kotia, candidates representing the two political parties and local villagers reportedly held discussions about the election situation.
During these discussions, the possibility of choosing representatives through a selection process instead of conducting a formal election was reportedly raised.
If implemented, such an arrangement would mark a significant change in the ongoing electoral developments in the disputed region.
However, no independently verified official notification confirming the cancellation of the elections or the adoption of a selection process was available at the time of writing.
Why the Kotia Election Dispute Has Become a Major Issue
Kotia, located in Odisha’s Koraput district, has remained at the centre of a territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for several decades.
The dispute involves 21 villages in the Kotia region, over which both states have asserted administrative claims. Odisha maintains that the entire Kotia gram panchayat belongs to its territory, while Andhra Pradesh has continued to exercise administrative influence in several disputed settlements.
The latest controversy began after Andhra Pradesh announced plans to conduct local body elections in parts of the disputed region.
The proposed electoral exercise included villages such as Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri. The announcement prompted strong objections from Odisha’s political parties and state administration.
Odisha Takes Legal and Administrative Steps
The Odisha government has opposed Andhra Pradesh’s election plans and approached the Supreme Court, filing a contempt petition alleging that the neighbouring state was violating the existing status quo arrangements.
The issue has also brought Odisha’s major political parties together. Representatives of the BJP, BJD and Congress agreed to jointly oppose Andhra Pradesh’s electoral activities in Kotia during an all-party meeting held on October 29.
The Koraput district administration also announced restrictions and increased security arrangements in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, reports published on October 29 indicated that Andhra Pradesh had revised its MPTC and ZPTC polling schedule, shifting voting from November 3 to November 5 and counting to November 7.
Is Andhra Pradesh Stepping Back From Its Election Plan?
The reported discussions in Kotia have raised an important question: Is Andhra Pradesh reconsidering its election strategy following pressure from Odisha, or is the proposed selection process simply a local arrangement?
At present, there is insufficient official confirmation to establish that Andhra Pradesh has withdrawn its election programme.
The development should therefore be viewed as a possible change under discussion rather than a confirmed political retreat.
The coming days will be important in determining whether the reported proposal moves forward and how both state governments respond.
For Odisha, the Kotia issue goes beyond local elections. It concerns territorial claims, administrative authority and the interests of residents living in the border villages.
The Kotia election dispute has once again become a significant political issue in Odisha, and the latest reported discussions could influence the next phase of the long-running disagreement between the two neighbouring states.
