Bhubaneswar: The decades-old border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over Kotia gram panchayat in Koraput district has triggered a fresh political confrontation, with former chief minister Naveen Patnaik accusing the BJP govt of going soft on Andhra Pradesh because of the ruling TDP’s alliance with the NDA at the Centre. The BJP hit back, accusing Naveen of neglecting the Kotia issue during his 24-year tenure and failing to take effective measures to protect Odisha’s interests in the disputed region.The political slugfest follows a recent notification issued by the Andhra Pradesh govt to hold panchayat elections next month in three revenue villages — Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri — in the Kotia region.Describing the development as a “grave concern”, Naveen wrote to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, questioning whether political considerations were preventing the state govt from responding firmly to Andhra Pradesh’s move.“The Telugu Desam Party, which governs Andhra Pradesh, is a crucial ally of the BJP-led NDA govt. Is political dependence the reason for the Odisha BJP govt’s silence and its willingness to compromise Odisha’s interests and territorial integrity?” Naveen asked in his letter.The BJD said the BJP had raised the “Go back, Andhra” slogan while in opposition and formed a 16-member committee on Kotia last year after coming to power. However, it alleged that the much-touted “double-engine” govt had failed to deliver tangible results in protecting Odisha’s interests in the region.BJP MP and former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan described the Kotia dispute as a “matter of concern” and called for a collective resolution involving all political parties, irrespective of their affiliations. “All political figures should take responsibility for resolving the issue. Through dialogue, we must create an amicable atmosphere for a solution,” Pradhan wrote on X.State revenue minister Suresh Pujari dismissed Naveen’s letter as an attempt to deflect attention from the previous govt’s failures. “Our govt has been making every effort to resolve the Kotia issue. I have visited Kotia four times in the past two years, and our ministers are making regular visits to connect with the people there,” Pujari said.He alleged that the dispute had escalated because of the previous govt’s negligence. “I call upon Naveen babu for an open debate on the issue. We are ready to accept Naveen babu’s constructive suggestions on the matter,” Pujari said. Going beyond the war of words, the BJD and BJP also traded barbs over the issue through cartoon posts on social media.