Despite the Odisha Government’s request not to conduct panchayat elections in the bordering villages of Kotia gram panchayat under Pottangi block in Koraput district, the Andhra Pradesh Government went ahead with its plan amid tight security in the disputed region on Saturday.
In the presence of Andhra electoral officials, voting began at 6 am in five villages, Madkar, Daliamba, Barnapadu, Patusineri and Konadara, and continued till 3 pm.
People were seen in long queues since the morning to cast their votes even after efforts by the BDO and Tehsildar of Pottangi to convince the them not to participate in the electoral process, which was a “conspiracy” by the neighbouring State. Security personnel of Andhra Pradesh were deployed at the polling stations.
On Friday, Koraput Collector Abdaal Akhtar had written to his Andhra’s Vizianagaram counterpart appealing not to conduct the elections in the disputed region as the matter is currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
“I am to bring to your attention that in Contempt Petition No. 172/2021 arising out of Original Suit No. 10/1968 (The State of Odisha Vs. M.Hari Jawaharlal and Others), the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has been pleased to issue notice to the State of Andhra Pradesh and post the case to Friday, the 19th February, 2021. In its oral observations, the Court has also observed that should the State of Andhra Pradesh go ahead with its plans as regards the subject mentioned above, necessary consequences will follow. The same was pronounced in the presence of counsel for the State of Andhra Pradesh. A copy of the associated case documents have been handed over to the counsel for the State of Andhra Pradesh,” the Collector wrote in the letter.
However, the Andhra Pradesh Government conducted the panchayat polls to claim its jurisdiction rights over Kotia.