A group of farmers and political representatives from five Assembly segments in Nanded district of Maharashtra met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Tuesday with a unique request to press for the integration of their villages into Telangana. The representatives were led by Babli sarpanch Babu Rao Ganapath Rao Kadam. All of them hailed from Nalgaon, Bhokar, Degloor, Kinwat and Hathgaon Assembly segments which border Telangana. 

"The situation in our villages is vastly different from those in bordering Telangana State. People and farmers in Telangana are happy while we are in distress," lamented the representatives.

3 major issues which the Maharashtra government doesn't provide. 

1) Farmers get Rs 10,000 per acre financial assistance in Telangana

2) 24-hour electricity power compared to 6 hours of power in MH (8 hours were promised to them)

3) Rs 2,016 pension to the poor compared to Rs 600 in MH.

They added that schemes like Kalyana Laxmi and distribution of KCR kits and clothes during festivals were not available for the people of Maharashtra.

The representatives told the Telangana Chief Minister that they want to contest the upcoming Maharashtra polls on a TRS ticket if allowed.

"People, including the elected representatives from villages spread over five legislative assembly segments from the bordering Nanded district in Maharashtra are agitated and are demanding that the state government either to implement the welfare schemes of Telangana State in their villages or allow their villages to be merged with Telangana," is what the representatives quoted according to a release by  KCR's office said.

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In the past, 40 villages in Dharmabad taluk in Maharashtra had passed a resolution demanding their merger with Telangana. "Responding to the resolution, the Maharashtra government had then declared a grant of Rs 40 crore for these villages, but the assistance is yet to be released," the representatives lamented. 

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KCR said that the demands were rational

After hearing their pleas, KCR responded that their demands are rational and hoped Maharashtra government would accede to it. He added that there have been several requests for TRS tickets from Bhiwandi, Sholapur and Rajara and he would take a decision soon to contest polls in Maharashtra.

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