May 14th 2024.
The small village of Kotia, located in the Koraput district, has been at the center of a territorial dispute between the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Despite the ongoing conflict, the village saw a high voter turnout of 76.53% during the assembly and Lok Sabha elections on Monday. This was even higher than the previous election in 2019, where 74.77% of voters participated.
Out of the 5,502 registered voters in Kotia, 4,217 exercised their right to vote at the nine designated polling stations. Among them, 2,172 were women who also actively participated in the election. State Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal expressed his satisfaction with the enthusiastic participation of the people of Kotia, stating that they voted without any pressure or fear.
The dispute over Kotia has been ongoing for many years, with 21 out of 28 villages falling under the Pottangi assembly segment of the Koraput Lok Sabha seat being the focal point. However, despite the tension, the District Election Officer cum Collector Keerthi Vasan V assured that comprehensive security arrangements were made for the smooth conduct of the polls. He also stated that there were no reports of any untoward incidents during the voting process.
The highest turnout was recorded at the Talakanti polling station with 89.51%, followed by 89.47% at Gumel Padar. These villages have been at the center of the dispute since 1968 when the case first reached the Supreme Court. However, in 2006, the apex court ruled that inter-state boundaries were outside its jurisdiction and left the matter to be resolved by Parliament. It also imposed a permanent injunction in the disputed area.
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