Student Election / Odisha Student Union Elections To Be Held On October 15, Minister Confirms

Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: Student union elections will be held across Odisha on October 15, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj confirmed on Monday, ending an eight-year wait for campus polls in the state.

The elections will be conducted in all degree colleges, including government and aided colleges, the minister said.

The announcement came after a meeting between Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Higher Education Minister on Monday to discuss the resumption of student union elections.

Polls To Follow Lyngdoh Commission Recommendations
Confirming the October 15 date, Suryabanshi Suraj said the elections would be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission.

“It will be conducted as per the Lyngdoh Commission recommendations. Our first priority was to fix the various issues related to campuses and it is vital for democracy. The polls will be done in all degree colleges, government and aided colleges,” the minister said.

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The election process will begin with colleges issuing the official notification on October 7, followed by filing of nomination papers on October 9. Polling for the student union elections will be held on October 15, marking the return of campus elections in Odisha after an eight-year gap.

Another key event in the election schedule will be the ‘Why I Stand For?’ meeting on October 14, giving student candidates an opportunity to present their views and explain the issues and priorities they intend to take up if elected.

With polling scheduled for October 15, students across the state have 10 days to prepare for the long-awaited campus elections.

Student Elections Returning After Eight Years
Student union elections were last held across Odisha in 2017. The polls were subsequently discontinued from 2018, with the then BJD-led government citing issues including Cyclone Titli and campus-related concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic later extended the suspension.

The BJP government, after coming to power in 2024, had indicated that student union elections would be restored. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had also previously said that campus elections would provide students with an opportunity to develop leadership skills.

The Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, accepted by the Supreme Court, prescribe norms for student union elections, including restrictions on political interference and a time-bound election process. The recommendations state that the election process, from filing nominations to declaration of results, should ordinarily not exceed 10 days.

The October 15 polls will mark the return of elected student representative bodies to Odisha’s campuses after nearly a decade.