Bhubaneswar: As the political temperature rises over the Kotia dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan urged everyone to come together, irrespective of political affiliations or opinions, to safeguard the state’s rights.
“We all know how important Kotia is for Odisha and the Odia people. Kotia is the identity of Odisha’s sovereignty and integrity. As an Odia, the long-standing border dispute over Kotia is certainly a matter of concern. Regardless of party affiliations, there is a need to come together for Odisha’s interests and find a collective solution,” Pradhan wrote on X.
Pointing out his efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute, Pradhan said he had personally visited Kotia in April 2018, February 2019 and April 2023.
He had also written letters to then-Odisha CM and current LoP Naveen Patnaik on November 18, 2020 and October 31, 2022, as well as to then-Andhra CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on September 22, 2021, requesting action.
“The responsibility of political figures is crucial to resolving the issues of this region. Through dialogue, we need to create a cordial atmosphere and find a way towards a solution,” Pradhan stated.
The sacrifice of Odisha’s great sons including Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das and Vyasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati to safeguard the state’s geographical boundaries will not go in vain, Pradhan asserted.
“Our fight for Odia pride will continue. Protecting the unity and integrity of Odisha is the collective responsibility of all of us,” Pradhan wrote.
The Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have been locked in a war of words with the ruling BJP ever since the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh issued a notification announcing local body polls across three villages in the disputed Kotia region.
BJP and BJD have even traded cartoons to attack each other.
‘କୋଟିଆ’ ନେଇଗଲାଣି ଆନ୍ଧ୍ର, BJP ସରକାରର No Tension 😤 #SaveKotia #OdiaAsmita #BJPAntiOdisha #ହଟାଅବିଜେପି #JababMaguchiOdisha https://t.co/qTocRL5cUJ
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) October 20, 2026
୨୪ ବର୍ଷ ଶାସନରେ କୋଟିଆ ସମସ୍ୟାର ସ୍ଥାୟୀ ସମାଧାନ କରିବାରେ ବିଫଳ ଥିବା ବିଜେଡି ଓ ନବୀନ ବାବୁ କୋଟିଆ ନାଁ ମୁହଁରେ ଧରିବାର ନୈତିକତା ହରାଇ ବସିଛନ୍ତି । ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀ ଜାଣି ସାରିଛନ୍ତି କୋଟିଆକୁ ନେଇ ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ଡବଲ ଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଡାର୍ଡ । https://t.co/O8L9GEun7d
— BJP Odisha (@BJP4Odisha) October 20, 2026
‘Dependence on TDP weakened BJP’s resolve’
The BJD has accused BJP of compromising Odisha’s mineral revenue and failing to protect the state’s interests in the Mahanadi and Kotia disputes, alleging that political compulsions and the party’s dependence on Chandra Babu-headed TDP at the Centre had weakened its resolve.
“The BJP supported the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, a black law under which Odisha lost its rights over mineral-bearing land, along with a pending amount of ₹1 lakh crore and ₹12,000 crore every year. For the BJP, the interests of a few industrialists mattered more than those of 4.5 crore Odias. It did not even consider the interests of our Gen Z. The BJP boasted about resolving the Mahanadi issue but has failed to do so even after two and a half years of the BJP’s double-engine government in Odisha,” BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty said.
“When the BJD was in power, BJP leaders howled, ‘Go back, Andhra!’ and formed a 16-member Kotia Committee. Yet, there has been no result. The double-engine Odisha government continues to fear the TDP, while Andhra Pradesh has announced elections in Kotia. The BJP’s howling brigade has fallen silent on the Kotia issue because it knows that the moment it opens its mouth, the TDP could withdraw its support, putting the survival of the Central Government at risk,” Mohanty added.
On Monday, BJP chief Naveen had also slammed the incumbent government over the Kotia issue.
