Koraput: In a significant electoral outcome in the disputed Kotia region, Liuri Hareka, a candidate from Kotia panchayat backed by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), defeated his Andhra Pradesh counterpart to win the Phagunsineri Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) seat in the rural elections held on Nov 5.Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-backed Chiranjivi Tadingi of Upper Sembi, one of the disputed villages of Kotia panchayat, won the Ganjeipadar MPTC seat. The results were declared after counting on Saturday.The victories come against the backdrop of the longstanding territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Kotia group of villages. Both states have been asserting administrative claims over 21 of the 28 villages in the Kotia panchayat, with the matter pending before Supreme Court since 1968.Ahead of the Nov 5 polls, following stiff resistance from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh shifted the polling booth from Neradivalasa, one of the disputed villages, to Sariki village on its side of the border. However, despite the relocation of the booth and heightened security arrangements by Odisha, some residents reportedly travelled to Andhra Pradesh to exercise their franchise.The Odisha administration maintained that the election results would have no bearing on its administrative initiatives or development programmes in the region. It reiterated that development activities in Kotia would continue irrespective of the electoral exercises conducted by Andhra Pradesh, with the welfare and interests of residents remaining its priority.“The election results will have no impact on our development activities in Kotia. Our focus is on the holistic development of the region, with greater emphasis on income-generation programmes, besides strengthening infrastructure and ensuring the welfare of residents,” said a senior official of the Koraput district administration.