Bhubaneswar/Koraput: Odisha govt has moved Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh’s decision to hold elections in the disputed Kotia panchayat of Koraput district, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said on Friday.A contempt petition has been filed by the Koraput collector against Andhra Pradesh’s election commissioner, the collector concerned and other officials involved in the electoral process, alleging violation of the status quo ordered by the apex court, Pujari added.Meanwhile, Odisha govt has convened an all-party meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue and decide its future course of action.The minister said the govt would take all political parties into confidence before deciding on measures to safeguard Odisha’s interests in the disputed territory. “We will move forward by taking everyone along on the Kotia issue,” Pujari said.At least three candidates have filed nominations for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) seats under Andhra Pradesh’s electoral process in the disputed area. The filing of nominations ended on Friday, while scrutiny is scheduled for Saturday. Polling for the MPTC seats will be held on Nov 3.“We have received reports of three candidates filing nominations for the MPTC seats. Necessary steps are being taken to safeguard the state’s interests,” Koraput sub-collector Fabi Rasheed told TOI.Rasheed said Andhra Pradesh has not set up any polling booth within Odisha’s boundary in the disputed villages. Instead, a polling booth has been established at Thanam, bordering Neradivalasa, the last village of the Kotia panchayat.“During our interactions, villagers said they were yet to decide whether to participate in the elections. The administration is keeping a close watch on the developments,” she said.Rasheed, during a two-day visit to Kotia from Wednesday, toured several disputed villages and interacted with residents to assess the facilities and welfare benefits being provided by Odisha govt.Around 2,700 residents of the 21 disputed villages are enrolled in Andhra Pradesh’s electoral rolls and are eligible to vote in the upcoming MPTC elections.A 16-member BJD delegation from Koraput also visited Kotia on Friday and staged a protest against Andhra Pradesh’s electoral exercise.The neighbouring state has also announced a three-phase election schedule for the posts of sarpanch and ward member on Nov 26, Nov 29 and Dec 2, covering Kotia panchayat and other areas under Parvathipuram Manyam district, said Pottangi tahasildar Debandra Dharua.Of the 28 villages under Kotia panchayat in Pottangi block, Andhra Pradesh claims jurisdiction over 21, while Odisha maintains that all 28 villages belong to it.The dispute reached Supreme Court when Odisha filed a suit in 1968, following which the apex court directed both states to maintain the status quo.
