Odisha Student Union Polls Underway Amid Tight Security

Bhubaneswar: Voting was underway at colleges and universities across Odisha on Thursday amid tight security as student union elections returned after an eight-year gap. Polling began at 8 am and will continue till 2 pm, with counting and declaration of results scheduled for later in the day.

The elections are being held at 346 colleges and 13 universities, with 6,891 candidates in the fray, according to the Higher Education Department. Of them, more than 6,530 are contesting college union posts, while 358 are vying for university student council positions.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged students to participate peacefully, describing campus elections as a foundation of democracy and a platform for nurturing future leaders. He appealed to students to shun violence, rumours and divisive practices.

Students gathered at Utkal University, Rama Devi Women’s University and other institutions to cast their votes. At Rama Devi Women’s University, BCJD supporters distributed red roses and Lord Jagannath’s mahaprasad at the entrance, drawing objections from rival student groups.

Police personnel were deployed at campuses and polling booths, with identity checks in place to ensure peaceful voting.

Official data showed that 1,597 college representatives and 42 university representatives had been elected unopposed.