Bhubaneswar: A day ahead of Odisha’s student union elections, returning to campuses after an eight-year gap, two separate incidents have heightened tensions – the detention of Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) leaders in Balangir on allegations of abducting a student, and the disappearance of an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)-backed candidate from his hostel in Jajpur.
Balangir police took president of the district unit of the BCJD Suman Nanda and BYD Odisha working president Rajendra Hota into custody on Wednesday in connection with the alleged abduction. Personnel from Laxmijore police station detained him after the “Why I Stand For” programme, a pre-poll event where candidates outline their platforms, and later produced him before a court under tight security.
The detention has intensified the charged atmosphere surrounding the polls, which had already seen high drama over the previous two days.
BJD leaders, including MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, condemned the move as politically motivated, accusing the state government and police of acting to protect a struggling ABVP ahead of elections at Rajendra University and elsewhere. They described it as an attempt to cripple the opposition student wing’s campaign. “The BJP is fearing the defeat of ABVP Candidates in Student Union elections, hence, they are using the administration & police force. The students have decided to teach BJP a lesson because of its anti -student stance & misgovernance,” added BJD Media Coordinator Dr Lenin Mohanty.
In Jajpur district, Biswajit Sahu, an ABVP-supported candidate contesting for Assistant Secretary of the Boys’ Common Room at Narsingh Choudhury College, has been missing from his hostel since Tuesday. His mobile phone has been switched off since the previous afternoon. Fellow contestants and campaign associates noticed his absence when he failed to appear for the mandatory “Why I Stand For” or “What I Stand For” meeting. Arpita Rout, a fellow candidate, told the media that the group of 12 contenders had met around noon the day before, after which Sahu’s phone went dead and he did not return.
College principal Suresh Sahu confirmed that students submitted a written application after the meeting, prompting the administration to alert police and request the Assistant Superintendent of Police to investigate. A formal complaint has been lodged, and authorities have appealed for Sahu’s safe return before polling.
A total of 6,891 candidates across 359 higher educational institutions, including 346 colleges and 13 universities, are competing for major leadership roles. Polling is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 15, from 8 am to 2 pm, with results expected the same day and oath-taking ceremonies slated for October 16. Many posts have already been decided unopposed following withdrawals.
While major political student wings including the ABVP, BCJD, and Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) are vying for power, widespread disputes and campaign violence have already prompted poll cancellations across at least 15 institutions. In response to growing campus unrest, including property vandalism at Utkal University, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj announced the setup of a centralised control room to monitor polling security, urging student bodies and administrators to strictly adhere to Lyngdoh Committee guidelines and uphold a peaceful election process.