Odisha Files Fresh Suit In Supreme Court Against Andhra's Poll Plan In Kotia

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has once again filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court for injunction against Andhra Pradesh for its notification to conduct polls to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) across the State including in Kotia region in Koraput district of Odisha.

The State government has prayed the apex court to order the neighbouring State to refrain from holding elections. Odisha government has requested the Court to treat Andhra’s move as a contempt of court if holds the elections.
Odisha’s move comes in the wake of Andhra Pradesh’s notification to hold election to the posts of samiti members and zilla parishad scheduled today (April 8).

Earlier, a single-bench judge of Andhra High Court had stayed the poll notification issued by the State Election Commission.

However, the order was again struck down by a three-judge bench on Wednesday, paving the way for the polls.
As per the order, the State can conduct the polls today. However, the court has postponed the counting date scheduled for April 10 till further order.

On the other hand, leaders of BJD, BJP and Congress have camped at Kotia to register a joint protest to Andhra’s move.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to conduct the polls at Tala Ganjeipadar, Phatusineri and Phagunasineri villages under Kotia panchayat in Odisha.

The neighboring State had conducted panchayat polls for the post of sarpanch in the disputed regions in February despite a writ petition filed by Odisha government in the Supreme Court against AP’s poll notification.
Koraput Collector Abdaal M Akhtar had also written to his Vizianagaram counterpart requesting him to desist from poll plan in the disputed areas.