Bhubaneswar: After Andhra Pradesh notified panchayat elections in the disputed Kotia region, the Odisha government decided to station officials there to monitor the neighbouring state's activities and assess development work.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a review meeting on Tuesday where the decision was taken. The Koraput Collector and Superintendent of Police, the Southern Revenue Divisional Commissioner, the Advocate General, the Law Secretary and senior officials attended.
One official each from the Odisha Police and Revenue departments will be posted in Kotia. They will track developments, monitor Andhra Pradesh's activities and review Odisha's ongoing projects, and submit regular reports to the state government.
Pujari said the state would explore legal options in the Supreme Court to protect Odisha's territorial interests, including reviving a pending contempt petition or filing a fresh one if required.
Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, urging decisive steps to safeguard Odisha's territorial integrity after Andhra Pradesh moved to hold panchayat elections in Kotia.
The Biju Janata Dal attacked the ruling BJP, alleging its dependence on the Telugu Desam Party at the Centre had weakened Odisha's response. Party media coordinator Lenin Mohanty claimed Andhra Pradesh had begun preparations for elections in disputed villages including Phagunsineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri, even as a Supreme Court status quo order holds.
The BJD also accused the BJP of compromising Odisha's mineral revenue, claiming its support for the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 had cost the state its rights over mineral-bearing land, besides Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues and Rs 12,000 crore in losses.
The party said it would fight for the residents of Kotia.