Patnaik sent a letter to CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, demanding an explanation for BJP’s silence after Andhra Pradesh announced elections in Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri. The notification follows a long‑standing spat over 21 of 28 Kotia villages, half of which both Odisha and Andhra claim.
The dispute was first taken to the Supreme Court in 1968, which ordered both states to maintain the status quo. In 2006 the apex court ruled that such inter‑state boundary matters should be resolved by Parliament under Article 131. Odisha’s fresh suit, filed in January 2022, remains under consideration.
In his letter, Patnaik questioned whether BJP’s political dependence on the Telugu Desam Party, the ruling party in Andhra, explains the central government’s lack of response. He recalled BJP’s earlier pledge that a "double‑engine" government would settle the Kotia issue and restore Odisha’s territorial integrity, and asked if those promises had been abandoned.
Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state is ready to "thwart any provocative attempts" by the neighbouring state. He instructed the Revenue Divisional Commissioner to monitor the situation and keep Kotia out of Andhra’s election roll. Congress MLA Rama Chandra Kadam demanded a swift intervention from the state government, accusing the BJP of double standards.
The notification could alter the administrative status of Kotia villages, a point at the heart of the dispute. Odisha officials have urged the central government to intervene while the Supreme Court continues to review the case.