The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) experienced a notable success in the student union elections held in Odisha on Thursday, capturing the president positions at two significant colleges in Bhubaneswar—BJB Autonomous College and Rajdhani College—as results trickled in from various campuses statewide.
Aryan Mahapatra claimed victory in the presidential race at BJB Autonomous College, while Abinash Padhi won the equivalent post at Rajdhani College, showcasing the strong presence of the student organization linked to the BJP in the state capital.
Furthermore, the ABVP achieved a comprehensive win at GM University in Sambalpur, where it secured all 13 available positions. Swadhin Acharya was elected as president, and Nikhil Agrawal was appointed secretary. The ABVP also emerged victorious at Berhampur University in Ganjam district and DD University in Keonjhar.
In addition to these wins, ABVP candidates triumphed at multiple other institutions, including Anthei Biju Patnaik College in Marshaghai, Angul Women’s College, Cuttack College, Kishorenagar Degree College, and Dhamnagar College.
On the other hand, the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), affiliated with the Biju Janata Dal, also achieved significant victories in various colleges, emphasizing the competitive nature of this election cycle.
BCJD candidates took the presidential roles at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack and Rama Devi Women’s University in Bhubaneswar. At Brundaban Subuddhi Degree College in Daspalla, they secured the presidency, vice-presidency, and general secretary positions. Additionally, BCJD candidates won the president and general secretary posts at PKSS College in Jharsuguda.
Victories for BCJD were also noted at Kamala Nehru Women’s College, Basudevpur College, Jayapatna Indravati College, and Khariar Model College.
As of the time of this report, results from the student union elections at Utkal University, one of the leading higher education institutions in the state, had not yet been released.
The significance of these elections is heightened as it marked the return of student union polls to Odisha’s colleges and universities after an eight-year hiatus. This electoral contest has provided rival student organizations with a chance to showcase their organizational capabilities and assess their appeal among youth voters.
However, the election process faced challenges, including disruptions that led to the cancellation of polls at several colleges across the districts of Ganjam, Kendrapara, Nabarangpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore.
Reports indicated that Banki Autonomous College in Cuttack district and Khariar Autonomous College in Nuapada district had to cancel their elections and adjourned indefinitely.
The ABVP’s achievements at BJB and Rajdhani colleges, along with their sweep at GM University, represent a crucial moment for the organization. Meanwhile, the BCJD’s successes at Ravenshaw and Rama Devi universities reinforce its ongoing influence in notable educational institutions throughout the state.
