Bhubaneswar, November 3: Tensions escalated along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on Tuesday after police personnel from the two states reportedly engaged in a scuffle over jurisdictional claims to the Kotia group of villages in Odisha’s Koraput district.

The latest confrontation comes amid a dispute over the upcoming November 5 elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), which Andhra Pradesh intends to conduct in the Kotia region.

Odisha has strongly opposed the move, asserting that Kotia falls within its territorial jurisdiction.

Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari accused Andhra Pradesh of attempting to create a constitutional crisis by deciding to hold elections in territory belonging to Odisha.

The latest incident has once again brought the longstanding inter-State boundary dispute over Kotia villages into focus, raising concerns over law and order along the border.