Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27 -- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday approached the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik for the long-standing inter-State boundary dispute over the Kotia group of villages, while reaffirming his government's commitment to protecting the state's territorial interests.

In a letter responding to Patnaik's communication dated October 19, 2026, Majhi said Kotia had been an integral part of Odisha since the formation of the separate state in 1936.

"The Kotia Group of Villages has been an integral part of Odisha since the formation of the separate State of Odisha in 1936. The State Government remains firmly committed to safeguarding the territorial integrity and legitim...