Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing “grave concern” over Andhra Pradesh’s announcement of elections in Kotia, which he described as an integral part of Odisha.
In his letter, Patnaik said that during his tenure as Chief Minister, the then BJD-led government had fought to protect the state’s territorial integrity. He recalled that BJP leaders had repeatedly asserted in the past that Kotia belongs to Odisha and had raised the slogan “Go Back Andhra”.
Targeting the ruling BJP, the LoP questioned, “Before the 2024 elections, the BJP promised in its manifesto that a Double Engine Government would resolve the Kotia issue once and for all, safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity, and restore Odia Swabhiman. What happened to these promises?”
Patnaik said it was deeply concerning that Andhra Pradesh had gone ahead with the announcement even though Odisha now has a “so-called Double Engine Government”.
“What happened to the BJP’s assurances that Kotia belongs to Odisha?” asked the former Chief Minister.
He also pointed to the role of the Telugu Desam Party, which governs Andhra Pradesh and is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
“Is political dependence the reason for the Odisha BJP government’s silence and its willingness to compromise Odisha’s interests and territorial integrity?” he asked.
The BJD supremo also sought to know the recommendations of the 16-member high-level Kotia Committee constituted in 2025 and the action taken to implement them.
“The people of Odisha deserve clear answers and accountability on these commitments,” Patnaik wrote.
He asked whether the state government would stand firm in safeguarding Odisha’s territorial integrity and constitutional rights, “or will it once again yield to pressure from the Centre?”
Questioning whether the “Go Back Andhra” slogan was merely an election gimmick, like other commitments that remain unfulfilled, he urged the state government to act decisively and take all necessary steps to uphold Odisha’s sovereignty over Kotia.
“The State Government must act decisively and take all necessary steps to safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity and uphold its sovereignty over Kotia,” Patnaik demanded.
–IANS
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