Bhubaneswar, July 30: Political activities are rising across Odisha’s college campuses as the long-delayed student union elections become a flashpoint for party rivalries. With elections not held since 2017 due to natural disasters, campus unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of whether polls will resume this year has sparked intense debate.

According to sources, the BJD student wing will launch a statewide campaign from August 1 to 14, citing student safety and demanding the revival of campus democracy.

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its student wing are avoiding elections after losing influence in several colleges.

Congress has also joined the fray, referencing recent incidents including the death of a female student, to demand accountability and transparency in campus governance.

Senior BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra countered the allegations, stating that it was the previous BJD government that suspended student elections for six years. “How can they blame us for losing control when they themselves shut down the democratic process?” he asked.

Student organizations like ABVP and NSUI have also voiced strong support for elections, arguing that the absence of polls has stifled student leadership and representation. ABVP leader Sai Ranjan Lenka from Baripada said, “The BJD government blocked elections for years. Now they fear the students’ voice.”

The last student union elections were held in 2017. Subsequent years saw cancellations due to Cyclone Titli (2018), campus violence (2019), and the Covid pandemic (2020). Despite the return to normalcy, elections were not resumed, leading to growing frustration among students.

With the BJP now in power in the state and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj hinting at elections before Dussehra, all eyes are on the official notification. The outcome could reshape campus politics and student engagement across the state.

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