Campus tense: No polls in major colleges

Bhubaneswar: Even as nomination paper filing for students’ union polls across colleges and universities of the State went smoothly on Monday, authorities of major colleges decided not to hold the annual affair today. Thanks to continuing student unrest due to rejection of nomination papers.

While Maharishi College of Natural Law and Rajdhani College here decided not to hold the polls this year and were closed sine die, Dhenkanal College and Samanta Chandrasekhar College in Puri followed the suit.

Sources said, violent scenes were observed in these colleges throughout the day after nomination papers of many aspirants got rejected after scrutinisation. Irate students were seen ransacking college canteens and libraries.

Disputing the scrutiny process of the authorities of Vikram Dev College in Jeypore, the students locked main gate of the college and gheraoed the principal demanding a fresh filing of nomination papers.

“The college authorities are not following Lyngdoh Commission guidelines. They have deliberately rejected nomination papers of some particular candidates. Hence we demand a fresh nomination,” said a student.

Meanwhile, Ramadevi (Autonomous) college here witnessed tensed situation after crude bombs were hurled inside the campus. Eyewitnesses said, some bike-borne miscreants hurled the bombs from the main road side of the college and fled.

To avoid any untoward situation, forces have been deployed in the campus.

Two days back, the authorities of Utkal University decided not to conduct the poll this year.