Odisha Student Union Polls Face Allegations of Manipulation

The Odisha Pradesh Student Congress (NSUI) has accused the Odisha state government of manipulating student union elections to favor specific candidates. State Student Congress President Bibhuti Bhushan Mohapatra alleged that the administration is misusing District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, and college principals to interfere with the democratic process. A primary grievance is the reported shift from direct voting to a selection process in approximately 206 colleges.

These elections mark the return of student union polls in Odisha after a nine-year hiatus, with voting scheduled for October 15 across 13 universities and 328 colleges. While Mohapatra predicted a clean sweep for the NSUI, he warned that the organization would launch statewide agitations if the administration fails to ensure transparent and fair elections. The polls feature intense competition between the NSUI, the ABVP, and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal.

In response to the climate, Biju Janata Dal senior leader Ashok Panda called on political leaders of all affiliations to stop interfering in the elections. Panda argued that political influence on campus disrupts harmony and undermines the independent decision-making of students. As nomination filings and scrutiny conclude, some areas have experienced rising tensions and temporary college closures, prompting local administrations to increase security measures to maintain a peaceful voting process.