AP, Odisha border villages: Kotia voters in a fix as polling on same day
Political parties from both the States have described May 13 elections as a referendum on the status of Kotia Group of Villages.
image for illustrative purpose
Kotia (AP-Odisha Border): For the tribal voters in these 21 tiny tribal hamlets, nestled in the hills on Eastern Ghats on the Andhra-Odisha border, elections this time have turned crucial as they have to exercise their franchise for candidates of one of the two States.
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have claims over jurisdiction of the villages, which are often described as Kotia Group of Villages. As the Biju Janata Dal Government in Odisha and YSRCP Government in Andhra Pradesh are vying with each other to extend several social welfare benefits and launching of several developmental works, the villagers have been availing the best of the world till date. The residents have Aadhar cards and voters’ identity cards in different names to avail medical and direct benefit transfer (DBT) under various schemes.
Now with the general elections for the disputed area being conducted simultaneously on the same day by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on May 13, the villagers have to choose either Odisha or Andhra Pradesh, thereby making them ineligible to avail benefits from the other State. Political parties from both the States have described May 13 elections as a referendum on the status of Kotia Group of Villages.
The area has remained a bone of contention since formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. The dispute was referred to the Supreme Court in 1968 by Odisha wherein the apex court ruled that a decision should be taken by the Parliament. Very often tense moments have been experienced in various parts whenever Odisha or Andhra Pradesh officials undertake survey/demarcation works. In the past, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajanna Dora visited the area and staked claim over jurisdiction for their respective States.
Interestingly, the main talking point in the elections this time is theBJD’s decision to enhance social security pension per month for the elderly and the physically challenged from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, whereas in Andhra Pradesh, YSRCP promised to hike it from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 and TDP-BJP-Jana Sena Party alliance to Rs 4,000.
Kotia panchayat has over 5,000 voters. The group of villages come under Pottangi Assembly and Koraput Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha and Salur Assembly and Araku parliamentary segments in Andhra Pradesh.
Parvathipuram Manyam Collector Nishan Kumar, Koraput Collector V Keerthi Vasan and Rayagada Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan held discussions recently to ensure free and fair elections as per the directions of the Election Commission of India.
