BCJD candidates participate in cleanliness campaign at Rama Devi Women’s University campus
Post News Network
BHUBANESWAR: As the dates for the college elections are coming closer, the candidates of various unions are busy with attempts to capture the attention of student voters. The candidates along with their team are visiting each and every class and appealing for votes. The teams formed by candidates are adopting several ways for campaigning — from social networking site to the door-to-door campaign method. This apart, the candidates are also highlighting the issues on the campuses and promising to do their best to solve them.
Utkal University
In Utkal University, like every year, the contest this time is between the students unions of three political parties – the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) of the BJD, the ABVP of the BJP and the NSUI of the Congress. Predictably, the main fight appears to be between the BCJD and the ABVP. The ABVP has Ratan Kumar Digal as the presidential candidate while the BCJD has Soumyaranjan Mohapatra. In the last election, the BCJD had won the presidential seat, and this gives them hope for a win this time too. The ABVP has also expressed confidence about their chances. Ratan noted that there had been violence and cancellation of poll schedules in the past, but this year it has been a peaceful campaign so far. “This year, there is no violence thanks to proper measures taken by the university and the police department. Cops have set up two temporary police camps in the Boys’ Hostel 1 and 6 in Utkal University. “This year we are fighting for improving the university infrastructure, as also more of teaching staff recruitments. The university has got the NAAC status which will motivate us to work towards making the university the top in the state.” Out of the three unions, the ABVP had fielded the most number of girl candidates. Two girl candidates were given the chance to fight for the cultural and general secretary posts. “This gives us the advantage of getting the girls’ vote,” felt the ABVP candidate.
BCJD candidate Soumyaranjan Mohapatra said, “In this election, we are focusing on issues affecting the students. A few days ago, we gheraoed the PG council office and demanded that the water supply problems faced by the students of Ladies Hostel 7 be solved. PG council chairman Brahmananda Satpathy has assured us of immediate remedial action. Not that we can do something only after winning the election. We can do things for students even otherwise.” Mohapatra said security in the university and hostels and more of infrastructure are major requirements of the students. The construction of a proper entry gate for the students and proper checking of the I-cards are demanded. “During his last visit, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced major plans for the university, and we will make sure these plans are implemented,” he said.
Rama Devi Women’s University
In the fray in Rama Devi Women’s University are Tanmayee Hota of the ABVP, Sushree Sangeeta Mohapatra of the NSUI and Soubhagya Soumyashree Samal of the BCJD. Tanmayee Hota had tried to enter the poll fray as an independent last year but
her candidature was rejected on technical grounds. Now, she has joined the ABVP, because “it is the only national-level students union that works for student-related problems.” “Our university has several problems including lack of permanent faculty and hostel issues. There is the need for a second campus and a foot overbridge (FOB) in front of the institution. We will raise the issue before the appropriate authority. These will be the major issues we will highlight during the election campaign,” Tanmayee said. Apart from campaigning through classrooms, the candidates are using different other methods to attract students to their side. The ABVP candidate has made a video based on the popular Sonu song video in which the candidate and her members are highlighting the problems on the campus. “We uploaded it on facebook and we are getting very good response.” The candidates of the BCJD are also joining the cleanliness drive on the campus with the help of NCC and NSS cadets, as part of their campaign. Soubhagya Soumyashree Samal, president candidate of the BCJD, said she along with her friends cleaned up the surroundings of the canteen, the vehicle stand, the Rama Devi statue and the lane connecting the university gate. “We cleaned the campus by drawing in students of all hues. It is our responsibility to keep the university clean. We also sensitized the students against littering the campus premises,” said Soumyashree.
