Opposition parties in Odisha have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of interfering in student union elections scheduled for October 15, with disputed nomination rejections, cancellations and campus violence intensifying the political confrontation.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress have alleged that the government is favouring the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent. The allegations have raised concerns about the security of students, the autonomy of educational institutions and compliance with the Lyngdoh Commission guidelines governing campus elections.
The polls are returning after an eight-year gap. According to the state higher education department, 6,649 students are contesting across 347 colleges and 13 state universities.
Opposition alleges selective cancellations and nomination rejections
BJD lawmaker Byomkesh Ray alleged that the state government was helping the ABVP by getting nominations of BJD-backed candidates rejected. He claimed elections had been cancelled in more than 50 institutions where the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the BJD’s student wing, had a strong chance of winning.
Another BJD legislator, Sarada Prasanna Jena, claimed that elections had been cancelled in 206 colleges.
BCJD president Ipsita Sahu alleged that ministers and lawmakers had pressured candidates backed by the Opposition to withdraw their nominations. She also questioned the timing of candidate lists at Utkal University, Rama Devi Women’s University and Ravenshaw University, saying they were published after 9 pm despite being scheduled for release following scrutiny.
The Congress has also alleged selective cancellation of elections and discriminatory enforcement of attendance requirements. Bibhuti Bhushan Mahapatra, chief of the Congress student wing, accused the government of cancelling polls selectively in institutions where the ABVP lacked support.
Mahapatra further alleged that nomination papers submitted by Congress-backed candidates at Pushpagiri College in Mahanga had been rejected despite the candidates having 75% attendance.
Assault allegations and campus unrest
The election process has been marred by allegations of violence and intimidation.
Dipankar Rout, a candidate for the president’s post at UK Mahabir College in Kendrapara district, was allegedly assaulted and forced to withdraw his nomination. Students subsequently blocked the Rajnagar-Cuttack state highway for nearly five hours in protest. There were also allegations that an assault took place at the hospital where Rout was receiving treatment.
In another incident, elections at Khariar Autonomous College in Khariar were cancelled amid violence.
The unrest has extended beyond these institutions. Reports published ahead of the polls have described protests over rejected nominations at several campuses, with some colleges closing indefinitely because of student unrest and fears of further violence.
The disputes have intensified scrutiny of the election process, particularly over whether eligibility and attendance rules are being applied consistently across institutions.
BJP rejects allegations of favouritism
Abhilash Panda, the Odisha chief of the BJP’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, accused the BJD of making misleading statements despite having curtailed students’ democratic rights during its years in power.
Panda said the ABVP could win unopposed in several colleges where the BJD did not have candidates.
The Opposition’s allegations have placed the ruling BJP on the defensive as student organisations compete for influence on campuses. The elections are also politically significant because they provide parties with an opportunity to connect with young voters and strengthen their presence among students.
Elections return after eight years
Student union elections were last held in Odisha in 2017. Polls were subsequently suspended amid concerns over campus violence and disruptions, with Cyclone Titli and the Covid-19 pandemic also contributing to the prolonged gap.
The Majhi government announced the resumption of elections, fulfilling a promise made two years earlier.
The Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, which came into force in April 2025, provides for the president and secretary of a university students’ union to become members of its senate. The provision gives the elected representatives a formal role in university governance.
The return of campus polls has therefore attracted interest beyond student politics, with the BJD and Congress viewing the elections as an opportunity to regain ground among young voters.
Police review security ahead of polling
With tensions rising across campuses, police chief Binaytosh Mishra reviewed security arrangements on Saturday through a video conference with district superintendents of police and senior officers from police ranges.
He directed officers to ensure peaceful polling, maintain order on campuses and take preventive measures to avert violence.
The authorities face the challenge of conducting the elections amid allegations of political interference and growing student unrest. The outcome will test whether the state can complete the long-awaited campus polls while ensuring that students can contest and vote without intimidation.