Counting for the long-awaited student union elections concluded across universities and degree colleges in Odisha on Thursday, with early results highlighting a strong showing by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) across multiple major campuses, even as isolated incidents of campus unrest, vandalism, and clashes surfaced in various districts.
Key ABVP Victories Across the State
ABVP-backed candidates secured sweeping wins in several prominent institutions, establishing leadership across key student posts:
- Gangadhar Meher University (GMU), Sambalpur: Swadhin Acharya clinched the presidential post, while Sanket Sahu was elected vice-president and Nikhil Agrawal secured the general secretary position.
- Angul Mahila Mahavidyalaya: ABVP swept all eight student union posts. Akankhya Pradhan won the presidency, Pritismita Nayak took the general secretary role, and several other representatives—including Simran Sahoo, Ispita Priyadarshini Sahoo, and Sruti Pranjya Garnaik—secured positions unopposed.
- Talcher Autonomous College: ABVP candidates dominated the panel, with Tushar Sahu winning as president, Priyanka P. Pattnaik as vice-president, and Himesh Maharana as general secretary.
- Capital Institutions: In Bhubaneswar, ABVP candidates also registered wins at BJB Autonomous College, Rajdhani College, and Jaydev College, alongside victories in Dhenkanal, Kendrapara (Marshaghai and Antei), Cuttack (Kishore College), and Dhamnagar.
BJD-Backed Wins and Campus Unrest
While ABVP secured major strongholds, the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) won key contests in regions such as Daspalla’s Brundaban Subudhi Degree College, Jharsuguda, Basudevpur College, and Kamala Nehru College.
However, election day was also marred by administrative disruptions and law-and-order challenges:
- Violence and Vandalism: Incidents of friction, clashes between rival groups, and non-student scuffles were reported at institutions like Baba Baliya College, where an individual sustained injuries. In Kakatpur, miscreants reportedly damaged a ballot box, prompting swift police intervention.
- Poll Cancellations & Closures: As previously reported, voting was abruptly cancelled at Kshetrabasi DAV (KBDAV) College in Nirakarpur following violent clashes, leading authorities to clamp Section 163. Similar disruptions forced sine die closures and poll cancellations at Laxminarayan (LN) College in Jharsuguda and Satapada College in Puri.
With results finalized across most institutions, heavy police deployments remain stationed around sensitive campuses to ensure peace following the conclusion of the electoral process.
