---
title: "“Stop Letter Politics”: Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari Slams Naveen Patnaik Over Kotia Border Dispute"
url: https://mediathepower.com/?p=1374
date: 2026-10-21
modified: 2026-10-23
lang: en
author: "Rajiv Singh"
description: "Sambalpur- Launching a sharp counteroffensive against the Leader of the Opposition, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has slammed Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, advising him to..."
categories:
  - "State"
tags:
  - "#AndhraOdishaBorder"
  - "#KotiaDispute"
  - "#mediathepower"
  - "#OdishaBorderIssue"
  - "#sureshpujari"
  - "• #OdishaPolitics"
image: https://mediathepower.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/sursh-pujari.jpg
word_count: 588
---

# “Stop Letter Politics”: Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari Slams Naveen Patnaik Over Kotia Border Dispute

**Sambalpur- **Launching a sharp counteroffensive against the Leader of the Opposition, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has slammed Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, advising him to stop engaging in "politicisation through letter writing" and instead utilise his vast administrative experience for the welfare of Odisha.

The Minister's remarks follow a strongly worded letter written by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing "grave concern" over Andhra Pradesh's recent notification to conduct rural polls in the disputed Kotia region of Koraput district. Patnaik had questioned the ruling BJP government's "studied silence" on the issue, accusing it of compromising the state's territorial integrity.

**A History of Legal Battles**

Minister Pujari traced the legal history of the dispute back to **1968**, when the Odisha government first approached the **Supreme Court**. The state faced consecutive legal setbacks during the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime:

- **March 30, 2006:** Odisha lost the original suit in the Supreme Court.

- **August 29, 2006:** A review petition (No. 886/2006) filed by the state was dismissed.

- **December 22, 2007:** A curative petition (No. 129/2007) was similarly thrown out.

- **2021:** The BJD government filed a **contempt petition (No. 172/2021)** alleging that Andhra Pradesh violated the court's 'status quo' order. This matter remains **pending**.

Despite the legal deadlock, tensions escalated in 2022 when Andhra Pradesh attempted to conduct local elections in the cluster. The neighbouring state reportedly facilitated dual voter ID cards for several residents who already possessed valid Odisha voter IDs. While a majority of Kotia residents traditionally vote in Odisha, dual voting remains an active administrative challenge.
The Roadmap: Directives Issued by the Revenue Minister

To counter fresh intervention attempts by Andhra Pradesh, Minister Pujari confirmed that high-level policy recommendations have been issued to key administrative and legal bodies:

**Koraput District Administration**

**Ministry of Home Affairs** (Secretary)

**Law Department** (Secretary)

**Revenue Department** (Secretary)

**Advocate General** of Odisha

**Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC)**

**Ground Strategies and Welfare Push**

Following extensive deliberations with top officials, the government expressed confidence in its current posture. Unlike in 2022, the state has systematically saturated Kotia village with **all state government welfare schemes**, successfully encouraging local communities to embrace Odisha's institutional benefits.

As a proactive security measure until the completion of elections in Andhra Pradesh, the state will deploy a **dedicated administrative official and a police officer stationed permanently on the ground** in Kotia. This team will submit **daily situational reports** directly to the Koraput district administration to prevent external disruptions.

"We are fully prepared to respond to Andhra Pradesh in an appropriate manner," Minister Pujari stated, reiterating that the state will defend its borders and citizens resolutely.

Responding to the opposition's attack, Pujari held up a mirror to the veteran politician's long tenure. "After being in power for 24 years, you possess a wealth of experience. Put that experience to constructive use for the state's welfare instead of indulging in politics through the writing of letters on this sensitive issue," the Revenue Minister stated.

He added Kotia rightfully belongs to Odisha and vowed to thwart Andhra Pradesh's plans to hold local body elections in the disputed Kotia gram panchayat villages. He remarked, "Odisha is the mother of Kotia, and Andhra should remain like an aunt" He highlighted that a Supreme Court status quo order is in force regarding Kotia, making any election attempts by Andhra Pradesh undesirable and invalid.

The Southern Divisional Revenue Commissioner has been instructed to monitor developments closely, and the Odisha government is taking legal and administrative steps to protect its territory

https://youtu.be/A04nRXqhEB4