Campus Polls / ABVP Dominates Odisha Campus Polls, Wins Majority of Student Union Seats

Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) emerged as the frontrunner in Odisha's student union elections on Thursday, securing victories across a majority of colleges and universities as campus polls returned after an eight-year hiatus.

According to preliminary results available till 9 p.m., ABVP had won student union elections in 79 educational institutions, significantly ahead of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), which secured victories in 49 colleges. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and independent candidates reportedly won in seven institutions each.

Reports also indicated that ABVP captured leadership positions in five of the seven universities where results had been declared. However, the Odisha Higher Education Department had not officially confirmed the final outcome of the elections across the State at the time of filing this report.

Polling for the 2026-27 academic session was conducted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 337 higher education institutions, including 325 colleges and 12 universities. A total of 6,696 candidates contested the elections, comprising 6,358 candidates in colleges and 338 candidates in universities.

The Higher Education Department stated that by 6.45 p.m., results from 153 colleges had been declared, with 1,398 candidates elected to various student union positions. Among them, 756 candidates were elected uncontested, while 642 candidates secured victory through polling.

Although the elections were largely peaceful, a few incidents of tension were reported from different parts of the State. At Rama Devi Women's University in Bhubaneswar, supporters of ABVP and BCJD clashed after the arrest of BCJD president Ipsita Sahoo by the Commissionerate Police, leading to a tense atmosphere on campus.
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In another incident, authorities declared sine die at Satapada Panchayat College in Puri district following the hurling of multiple handmade bombs. No casualties or injuries were reported. Minor tensions were also reported elsewhere, but no major violence was recorded.

The elections marked the revival of student union polls in Odisha after a gap of eight years, with educational institutions witnessing heightened political engagement and voter participation. The final tally is expected once the Higher Education Department completes compilation and verification of results from all participating institutions.