Nestled between Maharashtra & Telangana, Hamlet has 2 of everything — voter card to power lines

CHANDRAPUR: In the tranquil hamlet of Maharajguda, nestled 100km off Chandrapur, lives of Uttam and Chandu Pawar are divided by more than just a common wall. This unassuming abode, like many others in the vicinity, finds itself straddling the border between Maharashtra and Telangana, a geographical quirk that underscores the complexities of India’s state demarcations.

As Lok Sabha elections kick off, over 5,000 villagers across 14 such hamlets are gearing up to exercise their democratic rights in a truly extraordinary fashion. Most residents of the disputed territory claimed by both states, will cast their votes not once, but twice – first on April 19 during Maharashtra’s phase-I polling, and then again on May 13 in Telangana. The staggered polling dates provide a unique window, ensuring the indelible ink on their fingers would not last long enough and enable participation in twin voting exercises.

The prospect of dual voting and crossing state boundaries has evoked a spectrum of emotions among villagers. While some view it as an opportunity to wield influence in both states, others see it as a testament to the intricate nature of their existence on the borderlines. In earlier elections, when polling was synchronous in both states, men cast their votes in Maharashtra while women in Telangana.

“We want to vote only in Maharashtra. I have been fighting this battle since 1980, opposing Telangana’s encroachment on our villages. After the formation of state boundaries in 1956, these villages were allotted to Maharashtra. We voted when polls were held in this part in 1970. Disputes arose when Unified Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana, began making claims on our territory,” asserts veteran Ramdas Ranvir, reflecting sentiments of many.

Since 1980, the Telangana government has regularly conducted polls in these villages, offering amenities and facilities akin to those provided by Maharashtra.

However, discontent simmers among villagers, with some demanding intervention of the Maharashtra government and electoral authorities to halt what they perceive as Telangana’s unlawful incursions.

Echoing this sentiment, veteran farmer Uttam Thorat emphasizes the need for decisive action: “The Maharashtra government, collector, and Election Commission of India should step in to stop Telangana’s illegal activity of holding polls in our villages.”

The state transport buses from both states ply in these villages in morning and evening, but at different timings. However, only Telangana autos, painted in yellow, are seen in this area as Maharashtra has not permitted those from the state to begin operations. However, these autos are of a big help to villagers to move to towns like Jivati or in Asifabad, which are near to their villages.

Meanwhile, Chandrapur district administration has set up six polling stations for these 14 villages for Friday’s Lok Sabha elections. These include — Yesapur, Antapur, Padmavati, Indiranagar, Palasaguda, Lendiguda, Velapthar, Yesapur (Narayanguda), and Shankarlodhi, Maharajguda, Kotha(Ba), Parmadoli, Mukadamguda and Lendijala. There are 5,117 voters including 2,694 males and 2,423 females.

The saga of these border villages serves as a poignant reminder to the complex tapestry of Indian federalism, where state boundaries intersect and lives straddle multiple administrative jurisdictions.

As villagers prepare to exercise their franchise across state lines, their journey underscores the resilience and adaptability inherent in India’s diverse landscape.

‘Sab Kuch Dugana’ for villagers in these 14 villages

During TOI’s visit to these remote hamlets, it became evident that the unique border situation has created a myriad of administrative and social complexities. Most citizens not only possessed election cards of both Maharashtra and Telangana, but also ration and health cards. Even the electricity lines are laid by power entities from both states, although no one legally purchases meters and draws power illegally through hooks. Furthermore, the villages boast two sarpanchs and Gram Panchayats, representing the bifurcated administrative structure. Education is provided in two languages – Marathi and Telugu – with separate schools catering to each linguistic group. Political representation also reflects this duality, with two legislators — Cong MLAs from Rajura Subhash Dhote and Bhartiya Rashtra Samiti’s (BRS) MLA Kova Lakshmi from Asifabad town of Kumuram Bheem district — representing the villages in Maharashtra and Telangana respectively.

Voting twice is crime, we won’t allow it: Collector

Amidst these intricacies, authorities are vigilant to prevent electoral malpractice of dual voting. Chandrapur Collector Vinay Gowda emphasizes that double voting is strictly prohibited and constitutes a criminal offence. “A joint meeting of district officials from both Maharashtra and Telangana was held to ensure no double voting occurs in these border villages. We would be taking precautions to mark the indelible ink from nail to skin so that the villagers would be deterred from casting their votes twice — April 19 and May 13. We hope that indelible ink should last at least three weeks till May 13 elections in the neighbouring state, he said, while adding that all these villages belonged to Maharashtra only.

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