Rayagada: BJP national vice president D Purandeswari has said that the long-standing Kotia border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh can be resolved only through talks between the two state governments.
Purandeswari, who is BJP’s in-charge for Odisha, said if the governments of the two states sit down together for hold negotiations in a cordial manner, the issue can be resolved.
Attending the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ programme in Rayagada on Sunday, the Rajmundry MP addressed party workers and local media, outlining the party’s ongoing outreach initiatives.
Marking her second official visit to Odisha after assuming the role of state in-charge, Purandeswari said her tour began in Malkangiri and will span across 14 districts. Her initial visit included key organisational meetings in Bhubaneswar with the party’s state president and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, she said.
Explaining the core objective of the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ campaign, she said BJP is holding interactive meetings with intellectuals across the region. The campaign aims to counter opposition narratives, address allegations regarding vote theft, and present the truth about the functioning of the Election Commission directly to the public.
Responding to questions about the disputed Kotia region, Purandeswari said the border issue dates back to the 1960s, when the Supreme Court directed both states to maintain the status quo.
The senior BJP leader said Kotia is home to roughly 5,000 to 5,500 residents who currently receive welfare benefits and schemes from both state governments. Consequently, labeling the administration of either state as an “infiltrator” is incorrect, she said.
Purandeswari stressed that the proper path forward lies in bilateral dialogue between the administrative heads of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Noting that her primary task as BJP in-charge is to strengthen the party’s organisational base, she said offering administrative advice on border issues falls strictly within the domain of the respective state governments.
