Bhubaneswar: In a major move restoring campus democracy across the state, student union elections are set to return to higher educational institutions in Odisha after an eight-year hiatus.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj officially announced on Monday that polling will take place on October 15. The decision came following a high-level review meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.
Campus elections in Odisha have remained suspended since 2018 under the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government. At the time, the state administration cited disruptions from natural disasters, specifically Cyclone Titli, alongside rising campus violence and, subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic as primary reasons for halting student polls.
During the 2024 assembly elections campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had pledged to revive student union elections if elected to power. Fulfilling its electoral promise, the BJP government confirmed the revival of the poll process earlier this year, framing it as an essential step toward restoring student leadership and democratic values across state universities and degree colleges. The issue was also discussion at a meeting of BJP ministers and MLAs last month.
Official Election Schedule
Following the announcement, Mousumi Nayak, Joint Secretary to the Higher Education Department, issued formal guidelines detailing the step-by-step timeline for the 2026–27 academic session:
October 7 (Wednesday): Official notification and timeline issued by colleges.
October 9 (Friday):
Nomination filing from 10 am to 1 pm
Scrutiny of nominations from 2 pm to 4 pm
Publication of valid nominations at 5 pm
October 10 (Saturday):
Withdrawal of nominations from 10 am to 1 pm
Publication of final candidate list at 3 pm
October 14 (Wednesday): Traditional “Why I Stand For” meeting on campus.
October 15 (Thursday):
Polling from 8 am to 2 pm
Vote counting and declaration of results beginning at 2 pm until completed.
October 16 (Friday): Oath-taking ceremony at 11 am
Key Guidelines and Rules
To ensure peaceful and orderly conduct, the Department of Higher Education has laid out stringent guidelines:
Eligibility: Undergraduate candidates (+3 Degree) must be between 17 and 22 years old, while Postgraduate candidates can be up to 25 years old. Candidates must hold at least 75% classroom attendance, have no academic arrears in the current year, and possess no criminal or disciplinary record. Distance education and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) self-financing students are ineligible to contest or vote.
Political Non-Affiliation: The state mandated complete disassociation from political parties, explicitly prohibiting non-students or outsider participation. Candidates are strictly forbidden from utilizing political funds, with candidate expenditure capped at Rs 5,000.
Campaigning Standards: Only hand-made posters are allowed on designated campus areas. Printed materials, loudspeakers, vehicles, animals, and off-campus rallies or public meetings are strictly prohibited.
Grievance and Security Protocols: Each institution will operate a Grievance Redressal Cell to handle complaints within 24 hours. Any incident of severe lawlessness must be reported to local police within 6 hours. Additionally, in campuses where peaceful polls cannot be guaranteed, institution heads are authorized under Supreme Court observations to implement a nomination model on a case-by-case basis.
