Odisha Parties To Oppose AP's Move To Hold Rural Polls In Kotia

The ruling BJP and all opposition parties in Odisha have decided to collectively oppose the Andhra Pradesh government's move to conduct rural polls in the disputed Kotia region, political leaders said on Friday.

The decades-long territorial dispute over Kotia villages, nestled in the picturesque hills of the Eastern Ghats along the border of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, often comes to the fore during elections.

With territorial rights



being claimed by both the states, the matter is currently before the Supreme Court. People of these villages enjoy dual voting status, granting them the unique privilege of exercising their franchise in both states. 

The administration of Odisha's Koraput district, under which disputed Kotia villages fall, warned of stringent legal action, including arrests, against those violating prohibitory orders or influencing villagers to participate in the polls.