Opposition smells rat in Odisha govt’s attempt to enrol student voters amid cancellation of union elections

The letter of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha to the Higher Education Department urging it to increase the enrolment of prospective voters in colleges and educational institutes has created a storm in the political corridors of the State.

While the Opposition including the Congress termed the move an attempt by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to lure young voters, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked if they really want young voters to be enrolled, then why cancel student union elections in the State?

“The State government has stalled the process in which students can get to know the electoral mechanism. At a time when the young voters are increasingly getting fond of PM Modi, this is a ploy by the BJD to divert the votes to them,” said BJP’s Biranchi Narayan Tripathy.

“At a time when an early election is being discussed in the political corridors, the State government has remembered the first-time voters. This is BJD’s ploy to influence new voters. But they will not get distracted by the BJD. In fact, the students will teach the BJD a lesson in 2024 elections,” said Congress’ Krushna Chandra Pati.

However, the BJD denied the allegations against them and termed it as a means to include the students in the electoral process. “The BJD has always emphasised the importance of students in mainstream politics. That is why youths have always been with the BJD,” said BJD MLA from Soro, Parsuram Dhada.

It is pertinent to mention here that the CEO, Nikunja Bihari Dhal had shot a letter to the Odisha Higher Education department citing that the enrolment of young voters in Odisha is not up to the mark compared to other segments of voters.

“Enrolment of young voters is not only important for an inclusive election process but also for sensitising them regarding their right to vote and take part in the process of nation building. In this aspect it is requested to instruct the higher educational institutions for taking special drives for enrolment of eligible voters during and immediately after the admission process,” read the letter by the CEO.

“The students may also be encouraged to apply for enrolment through Voter Helpline App (VHA) and participate in the activities of the Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) functioning in the colleges,” the CEO stated.

Following the letter, the Higher Education department wrote a letter to all the Registrars of Universities and Principals of Colleges urging them to take earnest efforts for conducting special drives in their respective institution for the enrolment of eligible voters.

NSS Programme Officers/YRC Counsellors /NCC Officers of the respective institution have been directed to take special interest to create massive awareness among the young voters on this.

Since 2018, no student union elections in colleges and universities across Odisha have been held. Student union elections were cancelled in Odisha in 2018 due to Cyclone Titli, in 2019 due to campus violence, and since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of elections, educational institutions are now being run by committees formed by students. This will be the sixth consecutive year when the student union elections will not be conducted in Odisha as no notification has been released so far for the same in 2023.