High political drama unfolded at Khadial Autonomous College on Friday as leaders and workers of the BJD and Congress staged a joint protest on campus, alleging candidate abduction and student intimidation by BJP leaders ahead of the upcoming student union elections.
Tension flared when protesters barged into the campus during a meeting between college authorities and Nuapada Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Subash Chandra Rait.
Demonstrators sat in front of the ADM, claiming viral social media videos showed BJP members abducting election candidates late at night. They demanded strict legal action and police protection for students.
State Congress General Secretary Kamal Charan Tandi urged authorities to maintain peace or call off the election, warning that outside elements were disrupting campus security. Khadial MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi emphasized that student safety must take priority before proceeding with polls.
Refuting the charges, BJP Youth Wing District President Gyanaranjan Megh called the accusations baseless, claiming BJD had a history of manipulating elections.
ADM Rait assured that a formal investigation is underway following a written complaint submitted by Opposition leaders, adding that election preparations across other colleges in the district remain peaceful.
