Jayapur: The Congress has demanded an immediate special development package for Kotia, accusing the Odisha government of failing to engage with Andhra Pradesh to resolve the long-standing dispute over the border region.
A Congress fact-finding team, constituted at the initiative of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, visited Kotia amid heightened political activity over Andhra Pradesh’s proposed panchayat elections in the area.
The team interacted with local residents to understand their problems, concerns and views on the prevailing situation. Congress leaders alleged that Andhra Pradesh was attempting to strengthen its claim over Kotia by holding elections there and criticised the Odisha government for failing to initiate effective dialogue with its neighbouring state.
During the visit, the team inspected a check-gate established by Andhra Pradesh and subsequently visited the Odisha Police check-gate near Neredibalsa along the Kotia border. The leaders also interacted with police personnel deployed at the location.
The delegation included Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Pattangi MLA Ramchandra Kadam, Jayapur MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Laxmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta, Chitrakonda MLA Mangu Khilla, Rayagada MLA Kadraka Appalaswamy, Bissamcuttack MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka and Koraput district Congress president Rupak Kumar Turuk, among other party leaders.
The visit comes amid renewed political activity over Andhra Pradesh’s panchayat election plans in Kotia, a disputed border area between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The Congress has called for accelerated development measures and effective government intervention to safeguard Odisha’s interests in the region.
