BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded to know whether the BJP’s “dependence” on NDA ally TDP was the reason for the state government’s “silence” on Andhra Pradesh issuing a notification for panchayat elections in three villages of Kotia in Koraput district.
“What happened to the BJP’s assurances that Kotia belongs to Odisha? “What happened to those promises? Also, before the 2024 elections, the BJP made a promise that a ‘double-engine’ government would resolve the Kotia issue once and for all, safeguarding Odisha’s territorial integrity, and restore Odia pride, Patnaik said in the letter to the chief minister.
In the face of the opposition’s charge of “double standards” and reneging on Odisha’s territorial integrity and pride, state minister Suresh Pujari said the BJP government was prepared to “thwart any provocative attempts” by TDP-ruled Andhra Pradesh. What makes this even more troubling is that the Telugu Desam Party, which governs Andhra Pradesh, is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre,” the former chief minister said. Despite Odisha having a so-called double-engine government, it is deeply concerning that Andhra Pradesh has proceeded to announce elections in Kotia,” he said in the letter. “Will the double-engine government stand firm in safeguarding Odisha’s territorial integrity and constitutional rights, or will it once again yield to pressure from the Centre?,” he posed and said that the people of Odisha deserve clear answers and accountability. Meanwhile, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday had said that the government is fully prepared to “thwart any provocative attempts by the neighbouring state”. The Koraput district collector has been taking stock of the situation, and both officers have been asked to make sure Kotia doesn’t become a part of Andhra Pradesh’s election process, the minister said.
