Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister P Rajan Dora visited the Neradibalsa and Tadibalsa areas under Kotia panchayat in Koraput district on Tuesday.
Dora, who went around several development projects, held discussions on several issues with Kotia residents, who resented the Odisha Government’s inaction against such steps of Andhra Pradesh Government.
Though the Odisha Government has set up a police station and administrative offices at Kotia, the Government seems to have done nothing against the neigbouring State Government’s move, the locals said.
Earlier, residents of Kotia snubbed the Deputy Chief Minister during his visit to the area. It was learnt that Andhra Pradesh supported Independent candidate Tikai Gemel had won the Zilla Parishad election from the seat. A team from the neighbouring state led by Deputy Chief Minister Dora had visited the area to celebrate the victory of Gemel.
Andhra Pradesh thought that the newly elected Zilla Parishad member and his supporters would extend their support to the Andhra team. However, the villagers opposed the team from the neighbouring State staunchly by saying that Andhra is only concerned in fulfilling its own agenda by giving false assurances to the people in the area.
However, Patangi MLA Pitam Padhi resented the Andhra Government’s move, saying, “We have not kept silent. We are doing our duty to make Kotia a part of Odisha . When the Deputy Chief Minister was an MLA he used to visit Kotia. But after being Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh he should not breach protocol. Visiting Kotia secretly and luring people towards Andhra Pradesh is shameful. He should inform the Odisha Government whenever he visits Kotia.”