Odisha Congress Leader Criticizes Andhra Pradesh for Panchayat Election Notification
Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das condemns Andhra Pradeshs notification for elections in Kotia, urging state action to protect its territorial integrity.
Bhubaneswar, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : Bhubaneswar – Bhakta Charan Das, the president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), expressed strong disapproval on Friday regarding the notification issued by neighboring Andhra Pradesh for panchayat elections in the Kotia area of Koraput district.
Das urged the Odisha government to take immediate action against this incursion by Andhra Pradesh. He called for the withdrawal of the election notification, asserting that it undermines Odisha’s territorial integrity. The Congress leader criticized the Odisha government, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for its silence on the matter.
He accused Andhra Pradesh of repeatedly interfering in the region, disrupting Odisha’s administrative framework. “The state government should have acted promptly after the notification was issued,” he stated.
Das emphasized that the Odisha government needed to respond immediately to Andhra Pradesh’s notification and take steps to halt it. He questioned why the BJP, which came to power under the banner of Odia pride and identity, remains silent on this issue.
He expressed concern that the government has failed to comprehend the intentions behind Andhra Pradesh’s distribution of pensions and other welfare benefits to the residents of the area.
Das declared that the Congress party would not tolerate this constitutional violation by the Andhra Pradesh government. He urged the Odisha government to coordinate with the central authorities and implement strict legal and administrative measures to safeguard the state’s interests.
The OPCC president called for immediate discussions between the Chief Minister or the Revenue Minister of Odisha, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Home Minister to resolve the issue. He demanded intervention from the central government to find a permanent solution to the Kotia border dispute and to prevent further encroachments by Andhra Pradesh.
Reiterating that Kotia is an integral part of Odisha, Das affirmed that the Congress party stands with the people of the state to protect its territorial integrity.
