Bhubaneswar: A total of 6,649 candidates will contest student union elections at 347 colleges and 13 universities in Odisha October 15, official sources said Saturday. The Higher Education Department released the final list of candidates Saturday after the completion of the nomination withdrawal process.
Of the total nomination papers filed across the state, 1,245 were rejected during scrutiny, while 439 candidates withdrew from the contest, it said. A total of 8,370 nomination papers were filed at 347 colleges of the state.
Of these, 1,196 were rejected and 7,174 were declared valid. As many as 405 candidates subsequently withdrew their nominations, leaving 6,362 candidates in the fray at the college level, according to the department.
At 13 universities across Odisha, 429 nomination papers were filed. Following scrutiny, 49 were rejected, while 380 were declared valid. Another 34 candidates withdrew their nominations Saturday, leaving 287 candidates in the final list to contest various posts, it added. The “Why I Stand For” meeting will be held October 14, while polling is scheduled to take place from 8 am to 2 pm October 15.
The newly elected student representatives will take the oath of office October 16. Student union elections were last held in 2017. The return of student union elections after a gap of eight years has generated considerable excitement across campuses.
With the publication of the final candidate list, contestants have intensified their campaigns to garner support and attract voters. Campaigning has gathered momentum across college campuses, with activities extending from classrooms to hostels.