Tight security put in place for students’ union polls in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With the students’ union elections all set to kick off in all colleges and universities in Odisha tomorrow, elaborate security arrangements have been made to ward off any untoward incidents.

At the ‘Why I stand for’ meeting today, the aspiring candidates spoke about their plans and promises for the development of their institutions.

In Utkal University, the candidates came up with their supporters to the meeting venue in a procession and assured the students of the all round development of the university.

“I will try my best to make Vani Vihar a green and clean campus and a Wi-Fi enabled campus. Besides, I will also try to bring back the lost glory of Utkal University as one of the best universities in the country”, Mahesh Prasad, a presidential candidate, told media persons.

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Another presidential candidate Gayatri Satpathy said the election this year will be tough this year as three candidates are contesting for the post of president. “I along with my supporters had tried to contact all the students before the election and we were able to contact all of them as they were present at the meeting today. I am feeling very happy about this”, she added.

Similar atmosphere was also in Rama Devi Women’s University where the aspiring candidates assured the students to solve the problems of their institutions.

The students have reposed their faith on me with a hope that I would be able to solve all their problems for which I am trying my best to win the election, said presidential candidate Chinmayee Jena.

Besides, election fever was also evident in Sailabala Women’s College in Cuttack, SVM College in Jagatsinghpur, FM College in Balasore, Khallikote Autonomous College in Berhampur, Sambalpur University and Berhampur University.

As per schedule, election will start from 8 AM to 2 PM and the results will be announced in the afternoon.

The oath taking ceremony would be held on the next day.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Utkal University campus this evening after the university authorities informed the students about the refusal of the Advocate General to give his opinion on the candidature of a presidential candidate having criminal antecedents.

The PG Council in a meeting yesterday had sought the opinion of the Advocate General about the validity of the candidature of a presidential candidate following the protest by a group of students.

Notably, students’ union polls in 33 colleges in the state have been cancelled this year due to violence.