Bhubaneswar, October 12: Student union elections in Odisha have triggered a political controversy, with the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of manipulating the electoral process. The allegations come ahead of the October 15 polls, which are being held for the first time in eight years.
The elections have been marked by allegations of political interference, rejection of nomination papers, pressure on candidates to withdraw and incidents of violence on college campuses. The developments have also raised concerns about the security of students and compliance with the Lyngdoh Commission guidelines governing student elections.
According to the state higher education department, 6,649 students are contesting elections across 347 colleges and 13 state universities.
Student union elections were last held in Odisha in 2017. Subsequent polls were suspended following Cyclone Titli and incidents of campus violence, with the Covid-19 pandemic further extending the suspension. The Mohan Charan Majhi-led government announced their resumption, fulfilling a promise made two years ago.
Under the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, which came into force in April 2025, the president and secretary of a university students' union become members of its senate. The elections are therefore being viewed as significant for student representation as well as the political influence of parties among young voters.
BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray alleged that the government was favouring the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He claimed nominations of candidates backed by the BJD's student wing, the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), had been rejected in several institutions.
Ray also alleged that elections had been cancelled in more than 50 institutions where BCJD candidates had a strong chance of winning. Another BJD MLA, Sarada Prasanna Jena, claimed polls had been cancelled in 206 colleges.
BCJD president Ipsita Sahu alleged that ministers and legislators had pressured opposition-backed candidates to withdraw their nominations. She also questioned the timing of candidate lists published at Utkal University, Rama Devi Women's University and Ravenshaw University.
Violence has added to the controversy. Dipankar Rout, a candidate for the president's post at UK Mahabir College in Kendrapara, was allegedly assaulted and forced to withdraw his nomination. Students subsequently blocked the Rajnagar-Cuttack state highway for nearly five hours. The election at Khariar Autonomous College was also cancelled following violence.
Congress raised similar allegations, claiming that attendance requirements and election cancellations were being applied selectively. Its student wing chief, Bibhuti Bhushan Mahapatra, alleged that nomination papers of Congress-backed candidates had been rejected at Pushpagiri College despite the candidates meeting the 75% attendance requirement.
The BJP rejected the criticism. Abhilash Panda, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, accused the BJD of making misleading claims and said ABVP candidates could win unopposed in colleges where opposition parties lacked candidates.
Meanwhile, Odisha police chief Binaytosh Mishra reviewed security arrangements with senior officers and district police chiefs, directing them to maintain law and order and prevent further violence during the elections.
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