Bhubaneswar: Political heat reached a new high in Odisha on Saturday over the upcoming student union elections, with opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress mounting a scathing attack on the BJP government in the state accusing it of manipulating the poll process.
Countering the opposition attack, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back and alleged that both BJD and Congress have failed to field adequate number of candidates for the campus polls slated to be held on October 15.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD leaders including MLAs Byomakesh Ray, Sarada Prasanna Jena and party’s student wing president Ipsita Sahoo claimed that cancellation of elections in several colleges was a direct attack on the democratic rights of the student community.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, BJD extended support to students staging protests in various places against poll cancellation and closure of colleges. The party alleged that arbitrary actions by the state administration were solely responsible for creating unrest among students.
They strongly criticised the practice of declaring indefinite campus shutdowns over isolated incidents. The party urged the state government to restore a normal democratic atmosphere in educational institutions immediately.
The BJD leaders further claimed that candidates backed by the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) were leading comfortably and set for uncontested victories in several colleges prior to the decision. The party alleged that the government cancelled the elections out of fear of an impending loss.
Warning the administration against derailing student leadership in higher education, the BJD demanded an immediate review of the decision to restore democratic processes on campuses across Odisha.
Attacking the state government in same vein, Congress leaders voiced concern over the ongoing student union election process across the state.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state Student Congress president Bibhuti Bhushan Mohapatra launched a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, accusing it of trying to manipulate the democratic process.
He claimed that the state government is misusing administrative machinery to secure unfair wins for favoured candidates. A major point of contention raised by the student body is the sudden shift from elections to selections in numerous institutions.
Congress claimed that direct voting has been suspended in approximately 206 colleges, where candidates are instead being handpicked through a “selection” process.
Despite the controversies, Mohapatra expressed strong confidence in the NSUI’s electoral prospects, predicting a “clean sweep” for the organisation. He urged the administration to maintain strict neutrality and ensure free and fair polls.
Hitting back at the opposition parties, BJP Yuva Morcha State president Abhilash Panda claimed that the BJD has failed to field candidates in nearly half of the state’s colleges, signalling a sharp decline in its support among the youth.
Abhilash Panda alleged that BJD was attempting to cover up its past mistakes. “Just because BJD was doing wrong during its tenure doesn’t mean everyone else will,” Panda claimed.
He accused the previous BJD administration of robbing college students of their fundamental democratic rights by keeping student union elections suspended for nearly a decade.
The upcoming elections mark a major turning point in the state’s campus politics, as student union polls are being held after a long gap of nearly nine years. Direct elections will take place across 13 universities and 328 colleges in Odisha. With the nomination process now completed, voting is scheduled to take place on October 15.
Panda expressed confidence in the student community, stating that youth are now aware of their rights and are actively participating in the democratic process.
He assured that the past mistakes made by the previous government would not be repeated and appealed to students across Odisha to maintain peace and participate enthusiastically in the polls.