The campus of Rama Devi Women’s University, Odisha’s first women’s university, became a hotbed of tension following serious allegations of ballot paper number tampering on the eve of the student union elections.
The controversy triggered a face-off between rival student factions, forcing university authorities to lock the main gates.
Candidates and student groups alleged that ballot paper numbers were arbitrarily changed, creating confusion among voters and calling the transparency of the electoral process into question. Activists affiliated with the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) staged loud protests on campus, arguing that the discrepancies would prevent students from casting their votes accurately.
Meanwhile, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also registered formal complaints with the police regarding the issue. The convergence of opposing groups outside the locked campus gates led to high drama, aggressive slogan-shouting, and supporters carrying several candidates on their shoulders.
The campus unrest unfolds against the backdrop of a statewide revival of student politics. Student union elections are returning to Odisha’s colleges and universities after an eight-year gap, with the last polls held in 2017. Voting is scheduled for October 15 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, followed immediately by vote counting.
Prior to this incident, the election season had already witnessed isolated controversies across various institutions, including cancelled nominations and localized protests. In response to the escalating situation at Rama Devi University, the administration has beefed up security, urging all factions to maintain peace while facing mounting pressure to investigate and address the ballot discrepancies immediately.
