The long-standing border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Kotia region has flared up once again following conflicting claims regarding voter turnout in the recent elections conducted by Andhra Pradesh.
While Andhra Pradesh authorities claim that nearly 40% of voters in the disputed Kotia belt exercised their franchise, the Koraput district administration in Odisha has strongly refuted the claim. Speaking at a press conference, Koraput Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan presented official voting data showing that actual voter turnout in Kotia remained well below 10%. He described Andhra Pradesh’s figures as unrealistic and aimed at misleading the public.
Ahead of the polling day, the Odisha administration had stepped up security across the border area. Police personnel were deployed in strength, establishing checkpoints and barricades at strategic locations. Furthermore, Odisha officials successfully foiled Andhra Pradesh’s attempts to set up polling booths inside the Kotia territory, forcing them to relocate the stations back into Andhra’s jurisdiction.
The unilateral electoral attempt by Andhra Pradesh drew sharp condemnation from political parties across the spectrum in Odisha, who united to protest against the intrusion into the state’s territorial jurisdiction.
Background on the Conflict
The dispute over the Kotia Panchayat involves 21 out of 28 villages, with both states claiming administrative control. The situation remains complex as residents in these border villages often possess identity cards and official documentation from both state governments.
With both states presenting drastically different voting statistics, debate has intensified across political and administrative circles. Observers emphasise that transparent, verified data must be made public to bring clarity to the actual turnout in the region.
