📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Daneellis114
Politics
AP Election Notice in Odisha’s Kotia Villages Sparks Congress Protest
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 18 Oct 2026, 01:36 PM
👁 12
The Andhra Pradesh Election Commission issued a poll notice in Kotia villages of Odisha, prompting a protest by the Indian National Congress. The notice has raised concerns about cross‑state electoral procedures.
The Andhra Pradesh Election Commission (APEC) has issued a poll notice in the Kotia villages of Odisha, a move that has drawn immediate protest from the Indian National Congress (INC). The notice, which was released on a Thursday, targets a candidate or issue that the APEC believes requires formal electoral scrutiny.
INC representatives gathered outside the APEC office in Kotia, demanding clarification on the legality of issuing a notice in a state where the candidate allegedly does not reside. Party officials argued that the notice violates state boundaries and could undermine the integrity of local elections.
The protest, which lasted several hours, saw Congress leaders chanting slogans and calling for an investigation into the notice’s issuance. APEC officials maintained that the notice was issued in accordance with the Election Commission of India’s guidelines, which allow for cross‑state notices when a candidate’s activities span multiple jurisdictions.
The incident has sparked debate among political analysts about the coordination between state election commissions and the central Election Commission. While APEC has not yet released a detailed justification, it has pledged to provide further information to the concerned parties.
The situation remains fluid, with both parties awaiting official statements and potential legal review from the Election Commission of India.
INC representatives gathered outside the APEC office in Kotia, demanding clarification on the legality of issuing a notice in a state where the candidate allegedly does not reside. Party officials argued that the notice violates state boundaries and could undermine the integrity of local elections.
The protest, which lasted several hours, saw Congress leaders chanting slogans and calling for an investigation into the notice’s issuance. APEC officials maintained that the notice was issued in accordance with the Election Commission of India’s guidelines, which allow for cross‑state notices when a candidate’s activities span multiple jurisdictions.
The incident has sparked debate among political analysts about the coordination between state election commissions and the central Election Commission. While APEC has not yet released a detailed justification, it has pledged to provide further information to the concerned parties.
The situation remains fluid, with both parties awaiting official statements and potential legal review from the Election Commission of India.