In Maharashtra's remotest corner Aheri, a royal rumble is on

While one banks on his experience in administration and anti-incumbency, the other on his youth, fresh appeal and familial legacy. That they happen to be related, that too members of the erstwhile royal family, has only made the contest more interesting for the 2,15,313 voters in Maharashtra's remotest corner and the assembly constituency of Aheri, which borders Chhattisgarh on the east and Telangana on the west. Aheri is affected by the Maoist insurgency.

Also in the fray is Deepak Atram, the sitting MLA who won the last election and is contesting the present as an independent candidate.

Marathi may be the lingua franca across Maharashtra which will see polling for 288 assembly seats on October 15, but in faraway Aheri, Marathi does not matter. Speakers are required to speak in Telugu, Gondi and Halbi as tribal folk music is played out and traditional dancers keep the electors glued.

Tribals performing folk dance.

The prospect of Vidarbha region achieving statehood has further seen the royal family's political outfit, Nag Vidarbha Andolan Samiti, in existence for nearly half a century, tie up with and use the BJP's lotus symbol.

"Including me, three generations of my family have fought for the statehood. Today the BJP has the chance to do it thanks to their presence in centre and the strong-footing here. If not now, never," said 28-year-old Ambrishrao Atram, who is still termed by his supporters as 'Maharaj'. Drawn into politics owing to his father's untimely death, Ambrishrao has travelled the world and was recently studying in London before flying back to take over the reins of the family.

A student of business law in UK's Birmingham, he says his focus now is his constituency. "What is considered a necessity in a city is a luxury here. So my focus will be on tackling unemployment and providing electricity and water for my people.

Thousands of our youngsters migrate to Telangana in search of jobs, every year. We need to stop that," he said while campaigning in Sironcha region of Aheri. Asked if he has spoken to his uncle, against whom he wishes to contest, the soft-spoken candidate smiled, "He has been contesting against our family for a long time so there is no point in doing that." He added, "My uncle was a minister for almost 15 years, he failed to do anything for the people."

100km away from Sironcha, his uncle Dharamraobaba Atram or 'Baba' as he is commonly known is making his moves swiftly. Having lost, in a shock defeat to an independent candidate in the 2009 assembly polls, he is hungry for a win and wants to leave no stone unturned. For one, he has given up on what he calls, 'helicopter campaigning'. Asked about his nephew, he said, "He is young and wants to do something exciting so he has sound this. He also believe the so-called Modi wave will help him but he is mistaken." Interestingly, he too, like his nephew is fighting for more jobs, electricity, irrigation and basic facilities. He is with his nephew on the issue of Vidarbha too.

So what is the difference between them? "We have seen Baba for a long time but this young boy wants to do something for us, why not give him a chance," asked a villager. "Ambrishrao may belong to the royal family but he still is an outsider. He doesn't even know the local language," said another villager.

The excitement is present and visible among the villagers, especially those living along the roads and streets. From drinking water to electricity to roads and irrigation, issues, people say have remained unchanged even as newer, and this time, younger faces have showed up, seeking their votes.

(You can follow the writer on @JRPur)