Koraput, Odisha: The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has once again conducted elections in two villages under Kotia Gram Panchayat in Koraput district of Odisha despite the areas being declared as Containment Zones. Polling was held in Phattusuneri and Neredibalasa villages of Kotia despite the Koraput collector declaring it as Containment Zones and imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC. Andhra Pradesh officials and police established booths in the villages and started the polling at 7 AM on Thursday.
Both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha claim the Kotia cluster of villages to be their own. The booths, however, witnessed low turnout.
Of the total 1,291 voters notified under the Neradibalsa booth only 223 voters, including 99 women voters, cast their vote compared to 66 per cent polling recorded during the election to the post of sarpanch conducted by the Andra Pradesh SEC on February 13, 2021. As many villagers did not turn up to cast their votes due to prohibitory orders, officials from Andhra Pradesh had a discussion with the administrative officials of Odisha to allow them to visit the polling booths.
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A heated exchange of words also took place between the Andhra Pradesh police and some leaders from Odisha.
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It is pertinent to mention that the Odisha government has filed a second contempt petition in the Supreme Court over the long-standing border dispute with Andhra Pradesh even as the neighbouring state conducted elections in the villages under Kotia Gram Panchayat.
Wih inputs from agencies
