📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Politics
Odisha parties unite to block Andhra Pradesh polling in disputed Kotia
✍️ India Today
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 07:23 PM
👁 2
A coalition of opposition parties in Odisha has jointly condemned the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct polls in the border village of Kotia, a territory claimed by both states.
Several opposition parties in Odisha announced a joint stand against the Andhra Pradesh government's plan to hold elections in Kotia, a village that lies on the contested border between the two states. The parties issued a statement saying the move violates the territorial integrity of Odisha and undermines the ongoing resolution process.
Kotia has been a flashpoint for years, with both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh laying claim to the area based on historical and administrative records. Local authorities in Odisha have repeatedly warned that any polling activity by Andhra Pradesh would inflame communal tensions and disrupt law and order.
The unified opposition urged the central government to intervene and ensure that elections are not conducted until the dispute is settled through legal and diplomatic channels. They also called on the Election Commission to refrain from issuing any poll orders for the region until the matter is resolved.
Political analysts note that the coordinated response reflects growing sensitivity in Odisha over perceived encroachments on its jurisdiction, especially ahead of upcoming state and national elections.
Kotia has been a flashpoint for years, with both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh laying claim to the area based on historical and administrative records. Local authorities in Odisha have repeatedly warned that any polling activity by Andhra Pradesh would inflame communal tensions and disrupt law and order.
The unified opposition urged the central government to intervene and ensure that elections are not conducted until the dispute is settled through legal and diplomatic channels. They also called on the Election Commission to refrain from issuing any poll orders for the region until the matter is resolved.
Political analysts note that the coordinated response reflects growing sensitivity in Odisha over perceived encroachments on its jurisdiction, especially ahead of upcoming state and national elections.