Dispute over Kotia Panchayat Elections

Why in news?

Odisha filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the Andhra Pradesh government over the latter's decision to hold local body elections in the Kotia group of villages, which are subjects of a long-standing inter-state border dispute.

Key points

1. 1Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission notified elections for MPTCs and ZPTCs in the Kotia villages.
2. 2Odisha government filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court.
3. 3The Kotia group of villages has been disputed between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh since 1955.
4. 4Political parties in Odisha accused Andhra Pradesh of undermining Odisha's territorial integrity.
5. 5Odisha claims administrative control over the villages since 1936.

Background & context

The Kotia dispute involves a cluster of 21 villages. The conflict dates back to the reorganisation of states and involves differing claims on administrative control and revenue collection dating back decades.