Maharashtra Elections: Disputed Villages Push for Land Rights

Adilabad: Voters from 14 disputed villages along the Telangana-Maharashtra border are set to participate in the Rajura Assembly Constituency elections in Maharashtra on November 20. These villagers hope that their elected representatives will issue pattas (land titles) for their podu lands, which the Telangana government has long neglected despite non-tribals cultivating these areas.

The disputed villages, located in Kerameri mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district and Jiwati Taluk in Chandrapur district, include Parandholi, Kota, Lakmapur, Anarpalli, Jankapur, Karanjiwada, Anthapur, Maisapur, Bolapatar, Paraswada, Mukhaddamguda, Gouri, Khairi, and Arepalli, with a combined population of nearly 8,000. Recently, two new adivasi hamlets were added to the existing twelve villages.

On the final day of campaigning, rural development minister Seethakka and Backward Classes Minister Ponnam Prabhakar actively campaigned in Ghadchandur in Rajura and Ballarpur Assembly Constituencies on November 18, supporting their party’s candidates. Additionally, Congress leaders advocated for Jithender Shivajirao Moge in the Arni Assembly Constituency.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also campaigned for Congress candidate Subhash Dhote in Rajura on November 16, reinforcing the party’s commitment to transforming Warangal into Telangana’s second capital through various developmental projects, including the Underground Drainage System.

The 14 disputed villages include many Lambadas and Dalits (Mahar). Lambadas in these areas have benefited from land pattas, educational opportunities, and employment in Telangana, where they are classified as OBC and Scheduled Tribes. In contrast, Dalits have repeatedly been denied pattas to their podu lands by the BRS government, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.

Ramdas Ranveer of Mukhaddamguda highlighted that the Maharashtra government has promised to issue pattas for podu lands cultivated by Dalits, unlike the Telangana government’s inaction. This assurance has led Dalits in the disputed villages to prefer voting in Maharashtra, hoping for better land rights and economic support.

Senior Congress leaders, including Atram Suguna, B. Srikanth Reddy, and Kandi Srinivas Reddy, actively campaigned across Maharashtra Assembly constituencies, supporting candidates who pledge to address the land rights issues of marginalised communities.

Along with AICC adivasi department national president Shivajirao Moge, Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju campaigned in Parva, Savarga and Savangi villages in Arni Assembly Constituency in support of party candidate Jithender Shivajirao Moge.