Kotia group of villages record 35% turnout amid strong objections from Odisha government

People stand in queues to cast their vote at Sarika village near Kotia along the AP Odisha border on Thursday.

The Andhra Pradesh government completed the local body election process in the Kotia group of villages along the AP-Odisha border despite strong objections from representatives of political parties and officials of Odisha.

The voting percentage stood at around 35%, compared to the 25% in the elections held in 2021.

The local body elections drew attention as both the States have been fighting each another for jurisdiction of rights over the 14-group of villages which are believed to be rich in mineral resources. The villages technically come under the jurisdiction of the Salur constituency in Parvatipuram-Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh as per the orders of the States Reorganisation Act-1956.

Tension prevailed throughout the day in those villages as hundreds of people and supporters of various political parties from Odisha gathered in the villages to stop voters from taking part in the ZPTC and MPTC elections conducted by the AP government.

Parvatipuram Collector N. Prabhakar Reddy and Superintendent of Police S.V. Madhav Reddy along with other senior officials coordinated the election process at Kurikutti, Tonam and Sarika polling booths.

The Nerellavalasa polling booth was shifted to Sarika amid strong objection from Odisha.

Parvatipuram-Manyam Deputy Superintendent of Police Ch.V. Seshayya, five circle inspectors and around 10 sub inspectors and more than 100 constables were posted to ensure the smooth conduct of polling in the villages.

Mr. Madhav Reddy expressed happiness over the completion of polling in the disputed villages despite the many hurdles at the border area.

“A.P. police personnel refrained from having heated arguments. We stopped unauthorised people from Odisha from entering the polling booths and surrounding areas. Fortunately, the local people supported the AP government and participated in the democratic process without any fear,” said Mr. Madhav Reddy while speaking to The Hindu.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) senior leader Peedika Rajanna Dora exuded confidence that the YSRCP would get the upper hand in the Kotia group of villages as people of the border area had extended their whole hearted support with the effective implementation of the welfare schemes.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Salur mandal president A. Parameswara Rao said that the Super Six schemes of the AP government encourage people to come forward and exercise their voting right in spite of objections from the Odisha government.

Meanwhile, the elections were conducted smoothly in other parts of Parvatipuram-Manyam district barring a few incidents.

As many as 52 candidates tested their luck for the 15 ZPTC seats in the district A total of 533 candidates contested for 226 MPTC seats in the district.

The TDP alleged that former MLA Alajangi Joga Rao entered poling booths in several places in Parvatipuram mandal, violating the norms of the State Election Commission. Mr. Joga Rao refuted the allegations, and said that he had intervened to prevent alleged rigging of votes at several polling booths in the mandal.